Burnetts Solicitors appoints new corporate partner
Carlisle-based law firm Burnetts has announced the appointment of leading corporate partner, Jennifer Bell.
Jennifer has over 15 years of experience advising clients on all aspects of corporate and commercial law.
The appointment is part of the growth strategy for Burnetts’ corporate team, as it expands its services for businesses, intermediaries and the wider investment community in Cumbria, Lancashire and across the North.
Jennifer said: “I am very excited to be part of a firm that has a fantastic culture together with an excellent reputation for the quality of its corporate and commercial service offering.
“Burnetts’ corporate team prides itself on building longstanding relationships, being a trusted advisor and becoming a commercial sounding board for its clients. I am looking forward to working with Michael and the team and helping to build on their success.”
Michael Walby, Burnetts’ head of corporate, said: “We are delighted to have Jennifer on board. I know from working opposite her on transactions that she is a high calibre corporate lawyer, and importantly, she knows how to get deals done.
“She will be pivotal in developing our corporate offering further across Cumbria and Lancashire, during what is an exciting period of growth for Burnetts.”
Financial Management Bureau recognised for work with vulnerable customers for second year in a row
Financial Management Bureau in Kendal has been named as Company of the Year in the Just Group 2023 Vulnerable Customer Awards. FMB was highly commended in the same category last year.
The firm appointed client services assistant Sue Walling as its vulnerability champion and also runs a vulnerable customers programme, which includes focused training for its team.
“We look after every single client with highly individual advice, but for some clients there is an added layer of complexity due to a wide range of vulnerabilities,” said FMB director of business development Ruth Power.
“These can apply to anyone at any time and may affect decision-making or the ability to understand financial concepts.
“This is not just about dementia or ageing, some of our most elderly clients may be perfectly capable of understanding all their financial decisions, but sometimes we can be vulnerable temporarily, for example, following a bereavement.
“In other cases, a medical condition can mean a client requires additional support or may need communications to be adjusted to suit them,” said Ruth.
Community-spirited businessman hopes to regenerate harbour town in commissioner role
Mark Telford, founder of innovative solutions company Forth, has been appointed to the board of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners (WHC).
WHC is a not-for-profit organisation which manages and maintains Whitehaven Harbour and its surroundings with the goal of helping to improve the area and promote it as a unique place to live and work.
“The team at Forth are always keen to assist the towns and villages where we live and work, and I can bring a lot of experience and practical skills to the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners board to help regenerate the town.
“Local people really wanted to see the Wave lit up again after being dark for more than six years and, when WHC asked if Forth could come up with a working solution, I made it my personal mission to ensure that the lights returned bigger and brighter, making the town more appealing to residents and visitors alike,” said Mark.
Mark has been appointed to the voluntary role along with Adam Pearson, co-founder and director of Adamedia, a West Cumbrian SME delivering video marketing and digital communications services; and Harry Berkeley, a young Cumbrian entrepreneur with digital and e-commerce experience.
Deanne Shallcross, chief executive of WHC, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Mark onto the board along with Adam and Harry. All three bring with them a different set of skills and experiences which will be an enormous benefit to the organisation and the community in general.”
Genesis Homes’ fundraising ball raises thousands for disability charity
Hundreds of guests attended Genesis Homes’ West End to Broadway Charity Ball in aid of its chosen charity of 2023, Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust.
The charity helps disabled children and adults to improve their health and wellbeing through music.
The event at Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa in Windermere concluded a year’s worth of fundraising by staff members at Genesis Homes who participated in various activities throughout 2023 to raise funds, including office bake-offs, a 20-mile walk and golf tournaments.
Nicky Gordon, managing director of Genesis Homes, said: “Members of the Genesis Homes team and I were privileged to be invited along to Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust to see the life-changing work the charity carries out to improve the lives of people living with disabilities, and we couldn’t think of a better local cause to support as a business.”
Penrith-based Sunbeams Music Trust was founded by Cumbrian harpist and singer Annie Mawson MBE 31 years ago, and provides community music therapy to children and adults with a wide range of disabilities and complex medical needs.
Annie said: “Genesis’ fundraising activities have helped raise the awareness of our work to a wider audience, and the money they have raised will have an enormous impact on the Community Music Therapy sessions we deliver to more than 1,000 beneficiaries with complex medical needs and a range of disabilities.
“We can’t say thank you enough to Genesis Homes for this valuable and generous support, and we all had a truly amazing night at the charity ball which was spectacular from start to finish.”
Skipton Building Society supports unpaid carers in South Lakes
Skipton Building Society is donating funds to a Cumbrian charity dedicated to unpaid carers.
Carers Support South Lakes, part of the Carer Support Cumbria group, aims to improve the lives of unpaid carers as young as five years old with quality services, support and advocacy to promote their health and wellbeing.
Members of the Building Society voted to support Carers Support South Lakes in its annual Community Giving Scheme, which sees £82,000 donated to causes across the UK.
The members vote named Carer Support South Lakes as their runner-up to receive £300 of much needed funding.
Chief Executive Officer of Carer Support South Lakes, Debi Marsden said: “We are very grateful to members of the Skipton Building Society who voted to donate funds to our charity.
“Skipton Building Society’s support will help us fund activities for our young carers such as Outward Bound trips and afford adult carers the simple joy of sharing an afternoon tea with a friend, or accessing counselling services.”
Branch manager at Skipton Building Society in Kendal, Lynette Hilton-Garnett said: “We are so pleased to be supporting Carer Support South Lakes with a donation of £300.
“We know it is a vital local resource to so many adults and children who find themselves in a position as a carer. We hope our donation will help the charity to continue providing that much needed support.”
Archie wins national Trade Apprentice of the Year Award
Archie Aston, an 18 year old apprentice, from Stockdalewath near Carlisle has won the Trade Apprentice of the Year Award at the British Printing Industries Federation 2023 Apprenticeship Awards in London.
Archie has worked as an apprentice for Penrith-based branding specialists Ast since September 2022.
He has cerebral palsy and despite the daily challenges it presents, doesn’t let it his affect his performance at work.
Archie said: “It is an honour to win such a prestigious national award and I am very, very proud. I work hard and it’s important to me to do a good job, so it’s nice to have my effort§ rewarded like this.”
Mark Aston, managing director of Ast said: “Archie’s become a loved and valued member of our team since he joined us last year. He takes his work and his responsibility to his colleagues very seriously and has proved himself to be dependable and hard working – qualities we respect and are keen to nurture. We are all very proud of him and look forward to watching what he does next.”
H&H Group welcomes Will Hamilton as new group chair
Carlisle based H&H Group Plc has welcomed Will Hamilton to the office of chair at the H&H Group Plc AGM.
Will Hamilton takes up this position from retiring Chair Michael Scott after serving for five years as a non-executive director and recently as vice chair.
Will said: “It has been a privilege to have been on the Board for the past five years and a great honour to be invited to serve as chair of this outstanding group of businesses.
“The agricultural sector and the wider rural economy are adapting to major changes, and as a group deeply rooted in these sectors, we can provide them with the support they need to build a successful future.
“Our H&H Land & Estates business and H&H Insurance Brokers are growing in scale and expanding geographically into the North East and Yorkshire because we are providing a quality of advice and service that farmers, landowners, and rural businesses trust.”
JF Hornby hampers will bring festive joy to families in need
Ulverston accountancy firm JF Hornby & Co has relaunched its Hampers of Hope campaign for 2023 following positive feedback from last year’s efforts.
Managing director Paul Hornby is urging people to nominate those who might benefit.
“We know life has been tough for so many people over the last 12 months, with inflation hitting everybody in the pocket and having a meaningful impact on quality of life – sometimes to the degree that serious sacrifices have had to be made.
“I believe that if you are in a position to help, you should, which is why we have relaunched our Hampers of Hope campaign for another year.
“There are a whole host of reasons why you might choose to nominate a family or an individual; they may have done something amazing for the community, be struggling to make ends meet or live alone and need a festive boost.
“We are open to suggestions and very much look forward to getting out and about across Ulverston and Barrow to spread some festive cheer to those who need it most,” said Paul.
