People: Electric Steelmakers Guild; Fox Lloyd Jones; BRM; and more

South Yorkshire steel industry expert, Carl Brown, is predicting a busy 2025 as he takes on a new role as president of the Electric Steelmakers Guild.

The guild was created to promote progress in the manufacture of steel for commercial purposes in electric furnaces and to encourage free discussion and exchange of information of mutual interest and benefit to members.

Its membership includes Forgemasters, Marcegaglia, Liberty Steel, Celsa Steel and Tata Steel amongst many others and represents international leaders in the electric arc furnace sector.

As the new president of the organisation, Brown – who is general manager of Harsco Environmental in Rotherham -explained that the focus for 2025 would be on South Yorkshire and the north.

He said: “The American Metal Makers Guild President and past President will both be joining us for our Annual General Meeting in May.

“The AGM is taking place in Teesside, with a visit to British Steel Skinningrove Special Profiles and updates around British Steel’s plans for a new electric arc furnace at the Teesside Beam Mill Site.

“The year will also feature some important visits to South Yorkshire, including a February tour of the Sheffield Forgemasters site and then a visit to the new Danieli facility at the Advanced Manufacturing Park at Waverley scheduled for October.

“We are also pleased to have launched a new Electric Steelmakers Guild website, which was created for us by the team at Sheffield creative marketing agency Objective.

“With their fantastic support, we now have a platform that explains fully the importance of the Electric Steelmakers Guild within the steel industry.

“Our focus is the development of green steel techniques and helping the industry to meet its emissions targets.

“Harsco, of course, has an innovation heritage that goes back to the earliest efforts in industrial recycling and environmental resource management.

“Where others saw waste and expense, our founders saw opportunity and value and for more than a century we have innovated, positioning us to compete in – and serve – a rapidly changing and globalising steel industry.

“Now, as president of ESMG, I believe our members can be leaders in the development of a sustainable and environmentally responsible industry.”

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Leeds-based strategic property and construction advisor, Fox Lloyd Jones (FLJ) has appointed Mark Gayton as a director, to head its Building Surveying division, expand its service offering and drive client growth.

Gayton has over 20 years’ experience in the property sector and has previously held senior roles at companies such as Hollis and Projex Building Solutions in Leeds as well as CNP in London.

FLJ provides a full breadth of building surveying services, ranging from development due diligence through to building acquisition surveys and reports. Gayton will be tasked with driving growth opportunities in this area and will play a key role in the firm’s senior leadership team.

He said: “Joining FLJ is an exciting opportunity for me to become part of a leading commercial property business in Leeds that has a strong reputation for client service and delivering a professional and results-driven approach.

“I’m looking forward to further expanding our building surveying offering by developing client relationships and providing strategic guidance which complements our existing construction, development and agency teams within the business.”

Simon Lloyd, co-founder and director, added: “Being in a position to enhance our building surveying division and senior leadership team, through the appointment of such an experienced professional as Mark, is hugely satisfying and further sustains our long-term growth.

“He brings to the business a wealth of expertise and knowledge that can only increase the level of insight and guidance we’re able to offer our client base.”

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Sheffield and Chesterfield law firm, BRM, has appointed Shahinda Hasan as its first chief financial officer.

She brings over 15 years of experience in financial leadership within professional services.

Her career includes senior roles at Browne Jacobson LLP, Benoy, and Potter Clarkson, where she played a pivotal role in driving growth and improving financial reporting.

In her most recent position as CFO at Potter Clarkson, she strengthened the finance team and guided them through a period of significant change. 

Her expertise in establishing key performance indicators and building strong finance teams has been instrumental in helping businesses navigate expansion and achieve their goals.

Hasan’s role at BRM is a newly created position, reflecting the firm’s growth strategy. As CFO, she will be responsible for strengthening financial processes, enhancing reporting and providing insight to support the firm in achieving its long-term objectives.

She said: “I am happy to be joining BRM at such an exciting time in their journey. The firm’s ambitions and culture are a perfect match for my experience, and I am eager to contribute to their success.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the business, being part of the future growth and generating efficiencies to maximise BRM’s profitability.”

Adrian Sheehan, executive director, said: “We’re excited for Shahinda to join us at BRM and help us move into the firm’s next chapter.

“It’s fantastic to have someone of Shahinda’s calibre and expertise to add to our already strong foundation.”

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A new committee to encourage equality, diversity and social inclusion in the legal profession has been set up in Sheffield.

The Sheffield and District Law Society has launched its new EDI Committee which features a group of 12 legal professionals who are passionate about promoting and supporting equality, diversity and inclusion in and around Sheffield.

Wake Smith private client associate Stephanie Chung and trainee solicitor Anna Woodcock have joined the committee which will work with local law firms, affiliated organisations, and local solicitors to build a more diverse profession.

They join other committee members from law firms across the region to share good practice and ideas around EDI.

Chung said: “Anna and I are happy to be working with the Law Society on their newly established EDI committee.

“Our focus for the year is social mobility and raising awareness about different routes into the legal profession and bringing together junior and experienced legal practitioners.

“We will be working hard to normalise EDI events and activities and build a platform for EDI to thrive in the culturally diverse region, so everyone can potentially make the choice of the law as their career.”

Clare Young, president of Sheffield and District Law Society, added: “We aim to bring together legal professionals and firms from across the region, in order share ideas and best practice concerning EDI.

“We want to support all firms in creating an inclusive working environment, and the work of this new committee will help achieve this goal.”