People: Bradley Hall; Expect Distribution; Know Someone; and more

A chartered surveyor with over 20 years’ industry experience has been made a director of property agency, Bradley Hall.

Katie Lister, who joined the firm’s Leeds office last year, has been made associate director of the firm.

It follows a significant investment by Bradley Hall into a new, larger Leeds head office in 2022 and almost a dozen appointments and promotions since the move.

Lister said: “I am thrilled to have been made Associate Director at Bradley Hall which marks a significant milestone in my career.

“The firm has grown rapidly over recent years, opening nine offices across the North of England, and so it is great to be taking on this role in what is an incredibly exciting period for the company.”

Lister studied Urban Land Economics at Sheffield Hallam University before going on to work for regional offices of firms such as Lambert Smith Hampton, Donaldsons and Eddisons/LIV, as well as spending a year working for DTZ in Australia.

She added: “Having worked in Yorkshire for the best part of two decades, I have been aware of Bradley Hall for many years and was excited to join the firm last year when I learned of the opening.

“I was looking for an opportunity to learn and grow with a firm, and quickly established that staff retention was high and career progression was achievable.

“I am really pleased to be here and I’m looking forward to helping grow the business as we look to the future.”

Neil Hart, chief executive, said: “We take great pride in investing in the professional development of our team and Katie is a great example of how we are committed to continue doing just that.

“Since joining Bradley Hall last year as a chartered surveyor, we’ve been blown away by her desire to always go above and beyond to support her clients and ensure she always delivers the best positive service, so this promotion is very much deserved.

“It also reaffirms our commitment to continue investing in Yorkshire.

“Since we opened our new Leeds head office here in 2022, we’ve created over a dozen new jobs and with Katie as an associate director and more projects in the pipeline, we are looking forward with her to continue growing our presence in the region.”

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Bradford-based logistics firm, Expect Distribution, has appointed Andy Hague as its new head of transport.

With a 36-year career in logistics, he brings a wealth of experience to this role.

His extensive background includes key roles with companies such as DHL, GXO, Wincanton, Asda, and Tesco, culminating in his most recent position as the national transport lead in the parcels sector with Evri.

Hague said he was excited about the opportunity to contribute directly to the company’s vision of achieving a £100m turnover.

He added: “This is a great time to be joining the Expect team. The Board have shared the vision and strategy, which I can help to deliver, as well as support the growth and recent acquisition of the business.”

A spokesman for the company said: “Andy is a highly experienced and capable operator. We are confident that under his leadership and guidance, our Transport division will continue to flourish and provide the very best solutions for our customers.”

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Weeks after securing £500,000 from Innovate UK, Know Someone, a Leeds-based tech start-up set to revolutionise the recruitment sector, has confirmed the appointment of Jamie Durham as chief operating officer.

Having worked on developing the business alongside chief executive officer, Geoff Shepherd, Durham will become intrinsic to the company, supporting its growth as more people are encouraged to make connections and recommendations for roles which are promoted through the app.

Durham said: “I have known Geoff for many years and so when the opportunity to work together was presented, it was a natural progression. Know Someone is a really exciting start-up with huge potential.

“Securing funding from Innovate UK has given us the leverage we need to take this to the next level.

“We know that when people start to use Know Someone they will never look back. It’s so simple and a great way for people to make some extra money.”

Shepherd said: “Jamie brings a wealth of experience to Know Someone and as a friend, it’s great that we finally get the chance to work together.

“We’re building a very strong team here at Know Someone. Jamie is not only our co-founder, but he’s a seasoned operator and business owner.

“We were really pleased when he agreed to take on the role of chief operating officer.”

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Law firm, Irwin Mitchell, is continuing to bolster its international services for UK and overseas businesses with the appointment of Leeds-based Richard Baigent as an international trade consultant.

He brings experience from his role as Department for Business & Trade’s (DBT) international trade adviser for the Financial, Professional & Business Advisory sector.

He has also held senior positions in global organisations such as HSBC and Western Union, where he led national and international teams.

With his extensive knowledge of international trade and his strong network of connections, he will play a key role in enhancing the advice the firm can offer UK companies which trade overseas as well as overseas businesses looking to invest in the UK.

One of his core responsibilities will be facilitating strong working relationships between Irwin Mitchell’s various international ‘desk’ leads and sector heads, with the relevant teams at DBT.

He will also ensure clients are up to date and aware of developments around developing Government initiatives such as: free trade agreements, Freeports and Investment Zones.

Baigent said: “I am thrilled to join Irwin Mitchell and contribute to the firm’s ongoing investment in building a strong international team.

“With the complexities of international trade and the opportunities it presents, I am excited to collaborate with our clients and prospects, supporting them in navigating global markets and achieving their objectives.”

Bryan Bletso, Irwin Mitchell’s director of strategic growth (International), added: “Richard’s appointment is a testament to our commitment to building a robust international team.

“His expertise and connections in international trade will further strengthen our capabilities and enable us to provide exceptional service to our clients on a global scale.”