People: Finance For Enterprise; Conference Leeds; Ware & Kay; and more

Doncaster-based Finance For Enterprise (FFE) has appointed Adele Wells as credit manager and Andy Christiansen as senior business lending manager.

Wells brings her experience from a career with Yorkshire Bank to her new role.

During her time at Yorkshire Bank, she rose through the ranks, starting as a cashier and eventually leading the Business Credit underwriting team.

Her extensive experience in credit underwriting, business lending, and leadership will be instrumental in her new role, where she will assess loan applications of up to £250,000 to help support FFE’s SME clients.

In his new role, Christiansen will focus on delivering essential working capital solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises, with a particular emphasis on supporting businesses across London and the Southeast.

He brings with him a diverse professional background. He began his finance career in the banking sector, gaining valuable experience in understanding the financial needs of businesses.

Prior to entering the world of finance, he worked in the travel industry, local government, and education, offering him a perspective on different sectors.

Wells said: “I was drawn to Finance For Enterprise after discovering its strong company values and ethos.

“Moving from a large corporation to a niche lender offers an exciting new challenge, and I’m eager to contribute my skills to support SMEs.”

Christiansen said: “FFE’s commitment to supporting businesses and the welcoming nature of the South Yorkshire team made joining the business an easy decision. I’m excited to play a part in helping SMEs access the capital they need to thrive.”

Andrew Austwick, managing director at FFE, added: “We are excited to welcome Adele and Andy to the team. Their wealth of experience and dedication will be invaluable in supporting business growth across the region and helping SMEs navigate their financial challenges.”

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Conference Leeds has welcomed a new addition to its team as Carine Mills joins as business development manager.

She will help identify and attract national and international conferences to the city to strengthen the wider visitor economy.

Formerly an experienced languages teacher for two decades, Mills pursued a career change following the pandemic and became a qualified practitioner in project management, which took her to a role with Harrogate Convention Centre.

She has always had a passion for languages and culture. She is a native French speaker and fluent in English, German and Spanish.

Her role within Conference Leeds will see her connect with conference organisers nationally and internationally while driving forward the conference and event sector in the city.

Mills said: “Since stepping into my new vocation I’ve found a great understanding of the changing world of events, and it’s exciting to be moving into the next chapter of my conference and events career.

“Conference Leeds is a fantastic conferencing bureau with a real focus on growing the local economy by bringing businesses and professionals to the city to further benefit the broader community.

“As one of the UK’s leading conference destinations, I’m looking forward to working with the partners across the city and gaining experience of the instrumental work that a convention bureau plays within the industry.”

Claire Heap, visitor economy manager at Conference Leeds, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Carine to the team. It’s clear she has a passion for the city as well as the industry meaning she will be a great ambassador when it comes to hosting a conference or event in Leeds.”

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Law firm Ware & Kay has appointed Paul Forth as a business development consultant covering its offices in York, Wetherby & Malton. 

He brings over 30 years of business development experience, having held senior roles at Yorkshire Bank and NatWest.

His knowledge includes specialisms in Agriculture, Energy, and Landed Estates, equipping him with insights into the needs of both large enterprises and smaller businesses.

Since 2023 Forth has been working as an agricultural and business development consultant. He has worked with a number of different businesses and professionals across the Yorkshire region.  

He will collaborate with the senior management team at Ware & Kay, with a focus on securing new business opportunities while strengthening relationships with new and existing clients in the local business community.

Forth said: “Throughout my career in banking, I’ve worked closely with businesses across Yorkshire.

“This experience has given me the ability to bridge the gap between financial and commercial services, helping clients navigate the complex needs of their businesses. 

“With Ware & Kay’s strong reputation and regional presence, I’m excited to be able to help the firm build on these strengths and I look forward to contributing to the their continued success.”

David Hyams, managing director, said: “Paul’s extensive experience and deep-rooted connections in Yorkshire’s business community make him a highly regarded figure in the region.

“His expertise and client-focused approach perfectly align with our firm’s vision, and we are confident his insights will enable us to provide even more customised legal services to clients across Yorkshire and beyond.”

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Tyr Law’s Commercial Property team has expanded further, with Alison Pharoah joining as an associate.

She qualified in October 2023 after starting her legal journey as a paralegal before completing her training at a Leeds-based regional law firm. 

Choosing to specialise in Commercial Property because of the variety of the transactions and complexity of the work, she is supporting the wider team on a full range of property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and landlord and tenant matters, to service the team’s diverse and growing client base across a number of sectors.

Founding partner, Dean Jowett, said: “Alison is the latest in a surge of quality recruits for the Commercial Property team at Tyr.

“As a foundation team of the firm, it is important we support the rapid growth of client work with colleagues of all levels. 

“As the team have now also been ranked in Chambers & Partners legal directory for the first time in the 2025 guide, we are pleased to see our network and peers recognise the strength and abilities of the ever-expanding team.”

Pharoah added: “I am thrilled to have joined Tyr at such an exciting time for both the firm and the Commercial Property team.

“I’m looking forward to working with colleagues old and new to help deliver the excellent level of client service that Tyr has become known for, while I continue to develop expertise in my chosen field.”  

She is also a member of the Leeds Junior Lawyers Division.