People: Blacks Solicitors; Boston Energy; Hull City Council; and more

Law firm, Blacks Solicitors, is growing its Holiday and Home Parks team.

Senior associate solicitor Andrew Foulds, solicitor Alannah Crux, associate solicitor Anna Schiavetta, along with senior associate solicitor Annie Beaumont have joined the team, bringing their expertise in the holiday and home parks sector.

Foulds is an expert in Family law, Crux is a specialist in Commercial Dispute Resolution, Schiavetta is an Employment law expert and Beaumont is an expert in Private Wealth and Succession.

The Holiday and Home Parks team comprises 15 professionals and has secured £50m worth of transactional work over the past 12 months, having worked with more than 40 new clients, advising on the succession planning for estates worth more than £100m.

Beaumont said: “It’s been a pleasure to have assisted in the development of our Holiday and Home Parks specialism.

“I’m committed to continuing to deliver expert and high quality services to our clients as the Holiday and Home Parks offering continues to grow.

“Working as part of a committed, well spirited and passionate team is a real privilege and I’m looking forward to witnessing the team continue to shine as we deliver high quality and specialist services to our clients.”

Nick Dyson, who heads both the Holiday and Home Parks and Real Estate teams at Blacks Solicitors, said: “Over the past decade, we’ve honed our expertise in this field.

“In the last 18 months alone, we’ve noticed a significant rise in clients seeking assistance with succession planning, wills and lasting powers of attorney across the holiday and home parks sector, which has led to the expansion of the team.

“We continue to provide national expertise across the holiday and home parks sector whilst being based in Yorkshire.

“Our cohort has consistently excelled and it’s a privilege to lead one of the region’s finest, specialist legal divisions for holiday and home parks.

“I am immensely proud of the team for their continuous dedication, which is reflected in the substantial number of matters handled in the last financial year.”

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Beverley-based wind energy specialist Boston Energy has made two key appointments as the business looks to expand and strengthen its market position.

Stuart Davidson has joined as new chief commercial officer, while Laura Botham has been appointed as the new head of people.

Davidson’s career has spanned several continents and sectors including wind power, oil and gas, petrochemicals, food and drink, aerospace and utilities.

He brings with him global executive-level experience at companies including industrial services provider ERIKS, where he was chief operating officer; technology manufacturer Norican Group; and emissions solutions provider Hoerbiger.

He said: “Having worked across multiple sectors and disciplines, I always looked back on my time working in the wind industry with a great deal of affection.

“The industry has evolved at a remarkable rate and, within it, Boston Energy has carved out a really powerful brand and reputation for quality and consistency.

“I’m focused now on penetration in the market and ensuring Boston Energy capitalises on the huge growth which is being seen in wind power.”

Botham’s career has spanned HR and project delivery working for companies including FTSE-listed food producer Cranswick, convenience foods company Greencore and wind power industry leader Siemens Gamesa.

While working as HR business partner at Siemens Gamesa in Hull, she steered the factory’s HR operations through the pandemic, working with trade unions, before progressing into a global talent and leadership role which saw her deploy talent programmes through the business, alongside her team in Spain.

She is passionate about developing local skills and talent, and is a Governor at Hull’s employer-led school Ron Dearing UTC, as well as sitting on the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP) Skills Board and supporting the Hull University Business School.

Botham said: “I feel passionately about the Humber being a destination of choice for talent, helping businesses succeed and thrive and creating a skilled workforce of the future.

“Boston Energy is a proud Yorkshire-based business with values which closely mirror my own and I saw an opportunity here to implement a clear people strategy and create leadership pathways and capabilities in what is a highly-skilled and exciting young and growing team.”

CEO, Julian Cattermole, said: “I’d like to welcome both Stuart and Laura during a significant period of growth for the company.

“Between them, they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of working both in the wind industry and broader business sectors, with proven track records of delivering fantastic results.

“As we continue to grow and broaden our services, it’s vitally important we have the talented people in the business to support that trajectory. With Stuart and Laura, I am confident we have found exactly that.”

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Hull City Council has appointed Chris Jackson as its new director of regeneration.

He joins the council from NHS England, where he most recently held the role of director of capital, with oversight of the NHS’s national capital budget and major capital programmes, such as delivery of new diagnostic centres and surgical hubs.

Before joining the NHS, he worked as a senior civil servant in central Government where he held a number of roles, including as deputy director in HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office, advising Government ministers on issues such as local government spending and devolution, adult social care, housing policy and private infrastructure financing.

Jackson, who was born in Hull, said: “Hull’s regeneration story has made national headlines and I’m looking forward to leading the fantastic team that has been instrumental in the transformation of the city.

“While much has been achieved in recent years, the city also has massive potential. I am eager to get going and to play a key role in the next exciting phase of Hull’s journey.”

Matt Jukes, the council’s chief executive, said: “Chris has considerable experience and expertise from an impressive career in the public sector and we’re delighted to welcome him to the council.

“He is taking on an extremely important role at a crucial time, working closely with our many partners to grow and develop our vibrant and burgeoning city and delivering on our regional devolution ambitions.

“I am very much looking forward to working with Chris as we move these important priorities forward.”

Councillor Mike Ross, leader of the council, added: “I look forward to working with Chris as we continue to build on recent successes in our city.

“As an administration, we are proud of what we have achieved so far and have no doubt that Chris will help us to continue with that.”

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Bradford Council has welcomed a new chair to the inaugural Keighley Town Board.

As part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda, Keighley was awarded £33.6m via the Towns Fund for its Town Investment Plan in 2021, and has since has been allocated up to £20m to deliver a Long Term Plan.

The Keighley Town Board has been set up to deliver both plans and is made up of representatives from local businesses as well as charitable and voluntary organisations, with support from Bradford Council.

Newly-elected chair, Tim Rogers, is the CEO of Future Transformation, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to close the digital divide and reverse climate change.

Born and raised in Keighley, he is a fellow of the University of Bradford as well as chair of the Digital Makers Operational Board and sits on various boards across the region with a STEM focus.

He is also on the DSIT Cyber Security Board advising on policy and skills provision.

Rogers said: “Keighley has some of the most recognisable and important cultural assets of the whole district with the Worth Valley Railway, the heritage of the Brontë’s, our buildings such as Cliffe Castle, incredible local businesses like Timothy Taylors and so much more.

“My vision is to use this multi-million pound investment from the public purse to create an environment where the private sector can see a sustainable return on any investment – allowing Keighley to realise it’s potential in its economy, skills, heritage, creativity and transport aspirations.

“In order to do that we all need to be on the same page and we need to work together in a truly collaborative way.

“I want to hear from people in all Keighley’s communities, and from businesses, schools and colleges in Keighley on what they want to see. This really is our time to shape our own future over the next 10 years and beyond.”

Rogers will oversee delivery of some of the board’s pivotal projects such as the Providence Park development, the Community Grants programme, the Town Centre Infrastructure project and the Capital Assistance to Business Growth grants.

Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, transport and planning, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, said: “The previously-established Keighley Towns Fund board has already been successful in delivering some excellent work.

“With the additional funding through the Long Term Plan, the vision for Keighley will now be developed further and this will of course take previous plans for the town into consideration.

“We are pleased to welcome Tim as chair to drive the work of the Keighley Town Board. With his experience, he will be an asset to the team.

“These are exciting times for Keighley. The level of investment in the town is significant and it will be transformative.”

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