People: Hill Dickinson; Consult Red; idhl; and more

Law firm Hill Dickinson has confirmed the hire of Glenn Hayes, who joins as an employment partner and head of the Leeds-based employment team.

Following a 20-year career, latterly as national head of employment law at Irwin Mitchell, Hayes joins Hill Dickinson’s Business Services Group, where he will advise on all aspects of employment law, covering both contentious and non-contentious matters.

He is recognised for his expertise in areas such as holiday pay and overtime, as well as discrimination and whistleblowing complaints.

He has also previously advised and managed a number of large-scale Settlement Agreement projects.

At Hill Dickinson, he will act on all employment matters for both employers and employees on claims for breach of contract, unfair and constructive dismissal, equal pay, and unlawful deduction from wages claims.

With an existing network that spans accountancy and law firms, Hayes will expand both the client base and expertise of its Leeds team ahead of its move to 11 Wellington Place.

Craig Scott, CEO elect and head of Business Services Group, said: “Glenn’s appointment to lead our Leeds employment team is a valuable addition to our rapidly growing Leeds office, and we’re excited to welcome a partner with his level of industry knowledge and experience.

“We’re proud to be attracting some of the most sought-after talent as we build our presence in Leeds, and the network Glenn brings with him will significantly bolster and develop our expertise in employment law across the Yorkshire region.”

Kerstie Skeaping, national head of employment, said: “Employment continues to be a growing area of focus across our Business Service Group both in Leeds as well as nationally.

“After welcoming a host of other partners to our Leeds office this year, including Lemi McAuley and his restructuring team and Alison Starr with expertise in corporate and public equities work, Glenn’s appointment to establish and lead our first employment team presence in Yorkshire will further broaden the skillset of our national employment practice.”

Hayes added: “The firm has already made great strides growing its Leeds office as well as its employment offering.

“So I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with the team to help further develop the services we can offer to support clients with navigating complex employment challenges.”

:::

Consult Red, a Shipley-based technology specialist in connected devices and systems, has appointed an experienced new leader.

Harsha Imrapur, the newly appointed chief commercial officer, has a track record of success in engineering, consulting, innovation and sales leadership roles, delivering complex solutions. 

As CCO, he will join the executive team, lead the commercial team and focus on expanding the firm’s market presence and igniting revenue growth.

He said: “I am thrilled to be joining Consult Red at such an exciting stage in the company’s journey.

“It has built a reputation for engineering eminence and has achieved unparalleled success in pioneering world-first innovations.

“I am eager to share this hidden gem with the wider world and drive the business’s swift and steady growth.”

Stuart Griffin, CEO, said: “Harsha will complement our team with fresh expertise and energy, and I am confident his leadership and talent will contribute significantly to our continued success.

“This appointment reinforces our focus on investing in the long-term strategic growth of the business.”

:::

Sharon Palmer has joined idhl from McCann Worldgroup.

As the newly appointed client success director at idhl, she will be part of the expanding Senior Leadership team at the Yorkshire-based digital marketing agency group.

Ben Wood, group CEO, said: “Sharon has a proven track record of delivering impressive results for clients and is already making a great impression with ours.

“With a people-first approach, Sharon is best at bringing the right mix of talent, data and tech together to deliver meaningful business solutions, and is already a great asset to our senior management team.”

Palmer is no stranger to driving industry-leading digital marketing operations and has worked with some of the UK’s best-known brands including Peugeot, Royal London and Aldi.

She said: “I am so excited to be joining the idhl family and helping contribute to their already huge success through driving deeper client relationships built on strategic understanding, connected, meaningful solutions which result in accelerated client growth.

“idhl is already set up to deliver with the best talent and client portfolio in the business and I’m thrilled to be part of the next phase of their roadmap.”

:::

Outdoor accommodation provider, Pitchup.com, has committed to making holidays in the open air more accessible with its latest appointment.

York-based travel enthusiast Holly Bland joins the business in the new position of accessibility and sustainability project manager.

She brings more than six years’ experience to the role, having previously worked on the accessible accommodation offering at Airbnb and as Group Corporate Social Responsibility Lead at Arriva.

At Pitchup.com, her objective is to develop the business’s accessible travel offering.

Dan Yates, company founder, said: “Pitchup.com is founded on a deep love of the British countryside and a desire to get out there and enjoy it to the full.

“We have always wanted to share that love and encourage as many people as possible to holiday in the UK.

“According to the WHO, around 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability. These communities are often underserved when it comes to accessible tourism options, experiencing challenges in finding clear, detailed and accurate information on accessibility that empowers them to book.

“The new role of accessibility and sustainability project manager is all about changing this. It is about making outdoor holidays open to everyone while at the same time, minimising the impact this has on the environment.”

Bland added: “I’m passionate about encouraging people to discover everything the outdoors has to offer so when Pitchup.com decided to really drive accessibility in the outdoor accommodation market, I was immediately up for the challenge.

“This role will enable me to help more people to get into the countryside and reap all the benefits it creates so I’m really excited to get started.”