People: Civic Engineers; Banner Jones; Holden Smith; and more

Civic Engineers, a civil, structural and transport engineering consultancy with a studio in Leeds, has made two senior promotions in Yorkshire.

Billy Brand and Tom Audsley have been promoted to associates as part of a programme of 15 promotions across the practice.

With a combined 17 years’ industry experience, Brand and Audsley are chartered structural engineers specialising in the design and delivery of award-winning building, structural and masterplan projects.

Audsley has worked on a broad range of new builds and refurbishments, with projects including The Store House, the new retail and student development at Briggate in Leeds; and supporting the City of York Council in the delivery of one of the UK’s largest zero carbon housing developments.

With expertise in historic buildings and mixed-use residential-led masterplans, Brand has worked on the refurbishment of Wakefield’s Grade II* listed Rutland Mills into a creative hub, Tileyard North; and Climate Innovation District in Leeds, the UK’s largest sustainable urban living project.

Leah Stuart, director at Civic Engineers, said: “Tom and Billy are incredibly talented and passionate about leaving a legacy through their engineering.

“Their commitment to adopting creative and innovative solutions inspires others and has shaped some of the region’s most notable developments that are responding to the climate crisis and improving people’s quality of life for the better.

“They’ve also played an important role in the growth of our Leeds offering and help to make us a fantastic team to be part of. Well done to both for their achievements.”

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Banner Jones, a regional law firm, has strengthened its Residential Property department with the addition of three new hires.

It has welcomed Sarah Khatib, an experienced solicitor with over 16 years of expertise, who joins as a director.

She will be based in the Chesterfield office, where she will work with Richard Joy and Kate Skelton to support the management and development of the residential property teams.

Her extensive knowledge will play a key role in advancing the firm’s service delivery and operational processes in the firm’s key localities of South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

In addition to Khatib’s appointment, Banner Jones has also brought on board Dana King, a paralegal, and Roberta Griffin-Pygott, an experienced conveyancer and legal executive, to the Residential Property department in Sheffield.

Both bring substantial experience and expertise which will further elevate the firm’s ability to meet client needs.

Richard Joy, head of residential property at Banner Jones, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Sarah, Dana, and Roberta to our teams in Chesterfield and Sheffield.

“Their combined experience will be instrumental in helping us continue to grow and meet the evolving needs of our clients.

“I am confident that their expertise will contribute significantly to the expansion of our services.”

Khatib added: “I am excited to join Banner Jones at such a pivotal time. The firm’s reputation for delivering excellent client service is well-known, and I look forward to working with the team to continue providing high-quality residential property services.

“The growing demand for our expertise presents an exciting opportunity to further develop the department, and I am eager to contribute to its continued success.”

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Holden Smith, a Yorkshire-based law firm, has appointed Tim Hare to its growing residential conveyancing team.

Hare, who will be based at the firm’s Elland office, joins Holden Smith from North West-based Russell & Russell.

Ryanne Smith, director and Elland branch manager at Holden Smith, said: “Our conveyancing team is growing rapidly, and as we continue to support a growing client base, we are happy to welcome Tim to Holden Smith.

“His breadth of experience in residential conveyancing will help bolster our growing team and ensure we continue to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.”

Hare added: “I have followed Holden Smith since the firm was established in 2019 and have been impressed with its growth and ambition to do things differently.

“I am pleased to be joining the conveyancing team at an exciting time with further growth on the horizon and look forward to working closely with Ryanne and the team to build on their success.”

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Yorkshire-based music development organisation, Come Play With Me (CPWM), has made a series of key appointments as part of a new operating structure.

CPWM has promoted Antonia Lines to COO; appointed Alice Scott as senior partnerships and development manager and Jilly Chatten as senior programmes & events manager.

It has also welcomed Hazel Savage (founder – Musiio, VP – SoundCloud) and Dom Smith (editor – Soundsphere Magazine) as new board members.

An integral part of Come Play With Me for years, Lines has first-hand experience of everything from running music festivals and marketing to working in press and managing DIY labels.

She has already excelled as CPWM’s diversity project manager and head of programmes and operations.

Chatten is former ops manager at the Brudenell Social Club and has years of experience as an international tour manager.

In her new role she will bring together all her expertise to produce engaging, inclusive and empowering events while exploring operational and collaborative label opportunities between CPWM and Clue Records.

Scott is a lynchpin of Leeds’s music community. She was as a member of Leeds-based bands Post War Glamour Girls and Tallsaint and was the events & venue co-ordinator of live arts space CLAY.

Tony Ereira, founder of CPWM, said: “I’m so proud that in nine years we’ve gone from a 7” singles club promoting local talent to a national organisation making a real impact on multiple fronts alongside an amazing network of partner organisations.

“After expanding very rapidly in the last couple of years, I’m incredibly excited to see Toni, Alice and Jilly bringing all of their extensive experiences into these new roles as it will make us far better placed to take advantage of a number of opportunities to develop our work for the communities we support in the months ahead.”

Lines added: “I’m so excited to move into new ways of working at Come Play With Me.

“We know our work’s incredible impact on marginalised communities already, but the last 12 months have allowed us to refine what we do.

“We can support people better to build their careers with more longevity and build new processes and systems that put community, collaboration and solidarity at the heart of it all.

“We’re always looking for like-minded organisations to work with, so being part of the growing WYCA and northern music networks is fantastic.”