In brief: Access Intelligence FD steps down; Angels on hand for Christmas parties

ACCESS Intelligence, the York-based software and computer services group, said today that finance director Colin Davies will be stepping down from the board with immediate effect.

Mr Davies – who is also company secretary – will leave the company to “focus on other business interests.”

Going forward, Chris Neilson, the group financial controller, will report directly to the chairman. Jeremy Hamer, non-executive director, will take over the role of company secretary.

Chairman Michael Jackson said:”I would like to thank Colin for his contributions to the company over the last few years, and wish him well in his other endeavours.”

Access Intelligence is made up of subsidiaries in York, Stockport, Manchester, Chorley, Lancashire and Newcastle upon Tyne.

:: 

GLOBAL hair beauty brand ghd is offering some festive glitz and glamour to beleaguered workers in Leeds by sending out a team of ghd Style Angels to deserving offices.

As the credit crunch bites, many Christmas parties have been cancelled or cut back, leaving employees feeling low on festive spirit.

Ghd, which has its global HQ in Bridgewater Place, Leeds, is to inject a bit of Christmas cheer into some of the most deserving offices in the city.

On Thursday December 18 – likely to be one of the busiest days for office Christmas parties – a team of ghd Style Angels will visit a number of businesses and provide hair makeovers for groups of stressed workers.

If you would like to nominate your office for a visit from the ghd Style Angel Service then email ghd@lucrecommunications.com for details.

::

LEEDS-based independent equity release advisor, Age Partnership, has capped its most successful year to date by moving to larger premises having helped release more than £100m of equity and increased its workforce by 50%.

The new 5,200 sq ft offices, which are next to its original offices on Thorpe Park, doubles the company’s workspace.

The company, which helps the over 55s release equity in their homes, started trading three years ago and says it is now the UK’s leading telephone-based equity release advisory service.

In the last 12 months, it has worked with equity release lenders including Norwich Union, Prudential, LV and Just Retirement to help more than 2,000 people release equity in their homes.

::::

MORE THAN 100 professionals both past and present from KPMG’s Leeds office gathered for its alumni event at Aspire in Leeds last week where they were treated to a martial art demonstration by members of the British Taekwondo team, which KPMG supports.

KPMG has partnered Sport Taekwondo UK for a five year period to support the martial art body by providing it with pro bono work on strategy development, governance and membership marketing in the run up to and beyond the 2012 Olympics.

SAFESTYLE Manufacturing and Logistics has scooped its second major Health and Safety Award of 2008.

Following on from the International Safety Award presented by the British Safety Council, Safestyle has now scooped the prestigious honour of “Best Improvement in Safety for 2008” from the Industry’s own Glass and Glazing Federation at the awards held recently in Huddersfield.

Chairman John Ross said: “The benefits effective health, safety and environmental management bring to any business are enormous and this latest award is wonderful recognition for the great effort everyone has put into our overall safety program at our Wombwell plant. However this is not just any other award, it is part of a continuous improvement programme that sees health and safety as our number one priority as we continue to protect our biggest asset, which is our people.”