People: Kirklees College; Lonsdale Contracts; ACS Stainless Steel Fixings; and more

Kirklees College has appointed Paul Edwards to the newly created role of head of business development and apprenticeships, as part of plans to further expand its apprenticeship provision.

Edwards joins with 15 years’ experience in apprenticeships and work-based learning.

He has spent the last five years working at The Sheffield College as the senior business development manager, working with employers to maximise the use of their apprenticeship levy, AEB funding, grant and commercially funded training.

He said: “I am really excited to be appointed as head of apprenticeships and business development at Kirklees College.

“Everyone has been really welcoming and I look forward to getting to know everyone and working with colleagues to help our apprentices achieve their full potential.”

Helen Rose, director of external relations and apprenticeships at Kirklees College, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Paul to the college.

“Growing our apprenticeship provision and employer partnerships is a key strategic priority for the college and Paul’s expertise and ideas will help us to achieve our goals.”

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Leeds-based facilities management and maintenance provider, Lonsdale Contracts, has made a string of appointments as part of its on-going expansion strategy.

Daniel Houghton joins as local authorities trades supervisor, working on projects such as wet room conversions, level access, rise and fall kitchen worktops and door widening.

Meanwhile, Daz Wall takes on the role of senior trades supervisor in the firm’s ‘New Build Aftercare’ division which provides outsourced repair and maintenance services to a growing number of national and regional house builders. 

Elsewhere Mark Statham, an experienced multi-trade operative, will work on pension fund, buy to rent (BTR) and private rental sector (PRS) property portfolios and housing associations. 

Christian Higgins, joint managing director of Lonsdale Contracts, said: “These are important appointments and we are pleased to have added such experienced and skilled operatives to the team in order to maintain our high levels of service and reputation for excellence.”

Formed in 2008 by Higgins and Andrew Mayo, Lonsdale Contracts provides commercial and residential facilities management and maintenance through its own in-house workforce to clients including; pension funds, managing agents, housing associations and estate management companies.

It also provides new build after-care to the construction industry.

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Following the 10,000 sq ft expansion of its Leeds-based factory, ACS Stainless Steel Fixings has made several senior appointments to its team, including Lucy Furnival as commercial director, and William Bishop as sales director.

The company is a manufacturer and designer of structural building components, including but not exclusive to wall ties, windposts, masonry support and brick slip systems – all essential components used for the construction of modern-day structures.

Furnival is a seasoned professional within the UK’s construction and manufacturing sector.

Leveraging her extensive experience from prominent brands such as Hilti, SIG PLC, and Speedy Hire, she will play a pivotal role in driving growth initiatives as well as promoting ACS’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing.

She said: “Our sector is evolving, and I’m hugely drawn to ACS’s authenticity – something that comes from being a family business – and its agility and appetite for change and continued investment in innovation.

“The company has strong environmental credentials and a passion for moving forward sustainably.

“I am genuinely excited to take on this role and spearhead the advancement of this vision, working alongside our clients and supply chain to foster continual improvement.”

After a successful year as the business development director at ACS, Bishop has been promoted to the role of sales director.

Drawing from his extensive experience of being heavily involved in the high-rise construction sector for over 15 years, he is poised to draw on his expertise to expand ACS’s client base.

He said: “I am thrilled with this fantastic opportunity to collaborate with Lucy and our board.

“Together, we are committed to extending the reach of our well-designed, patented products, ultimately making a positive impact on more people’s lives.”

Other changes at ACS come as six other new colleagues are appointed.

Noor Haddad joins the business as specification and design manager, joining strategic specification director Paul Ruding, as they champion best practices within the built environment sector, visiting architects and specifiers to deliver free seminars and training sessions on responsible specification.

Haddad is joined by Jake Harris who will be stationed at ACS’s factory in Leeds, spearheading business development initiatives in the North of England, while Tara Lee Smith, based in London, will focus on driving business development efforts in the South of the country.

ACS has also welcomed an additional three new colleagues to bolster its business development plans further.

The southern team has welcomed business development managers Tia Butler and Emily Higgins, while Aarron Hume joins the Leeds office as the company’s new business development director.

Managing director, David Flannery, said: “Our focus on growth this year is underscored by strategic investments in both our talented workforce and cutting-edge facilities.

“This reflects our unwavering confidence in the future of the UK’s manufacturing sector, a sector in which we are dedicated to continuous expansion and the pioneering of innovative products, proudly crafted here in the UK.”

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A lawyer who spent more than 60 years working for the practice in Hull his father founded has now made the move to join another firm in the city.

Patrick Burstall has been appointed as a consultant solicitor in the Private Capital team at Rollits LLP.

Burstalls was founded by Bryan Burstall at Imperial Chambers, Bowlalley Lane, Hull, in 1946 and Patrick joined in 1961, qualifying as a solicitor in 1968.  

When his father retired in 1978, he became senior partner, a role which he retained for 42 years until he stepped down as a partner in 2020 to become a consultant.

He specialises in many aspects of Private Client work and has particular expertise in trust work, wills, probate administration, tax issues, agricultural law and conveyancing.

He is a member of STEP – the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – and is a past president of the Hull Incorporated Law Society. He is also a past president of the Hull and Literary and Philosophical Society.

Patrick said: “After so long with the same firm I’m excited to join Rollits and look forward to contributing to their continued success in serving clients with exceptional service and advice.”

John Lane, head of the Private Capital Department at Rollits, added: “Patrick’s arrival brings a wealth of invaluable expertise and knowledge to complement our existing Private Capital team. 

“His experience and knowledge will help build upon our existing reputation as we continue to provide an excellent service to the clients we work with.”