We love it when businesses send us their good news and here’s our latest good news round-up. Awards, expansion, new contracts or new hires, if you’ve got some good news you want to share please email the editor, Martin Shaw, on martin@huddersfieldhub.co.uk.
HR, employment law and health and safety specialist, Howarths, has grown its employment law team with the appointment of employment law solicitor, Shamaila Gul.
Ms Gul will further strengthen the firm’s advisory team, supporting its roster of SME clients with all aspects of employment law including disciplinaries, grievances and redundancy procedures – while taking a lead role in the preparation of client documentation and the provision of contractual advice to businesses.
Charlotte Geesin, legal director at Cleckheaton-based Howarths, said: “Shamaila is a perfect fit for Howarths, and we are delighted to welcome her to the growing team.
“As a qualified solicitor, her down-to-earth but commercially astute approach will see her further develop the existing employment law services Howarths delivers to more than 1,000 SMEs across Yorkshire and the UK.”
Gavin Howarth, managing director at Howarths, said: “The employment landscape is constantly shifting, and businesses require expert support and advice to ensure they meet their legal responsibilities as an employer.
“Shamaila’s skills, know-how and experience will ensure our existing and new clients have access to the very best advice to navigate the ever-evolving employment law landscape.”
Huddersfield-based glass manufacturer Specialist Glass Products (SGP) has appointed a general manager to support the business’s growth strategy in 2022.
SGP is a leading supplier of curved, flat and bespoke toughened and laminated glass products, which are used in applications including building facades, balustrades, spiral stairs, shopfronts, plus many more weird and wonderful structures across the UK, Europe and America.
Joining the team is John Day as general manager. With over 20 years of experience in the glass processing industry, John will manage, implement and improve all systems across the company as they look to go through extensive growth.
John brings a wealth of experience in production and management, having worked with glass manufacturing companies in his roles at Marrose Abrasives & Intermac UK and latterly at Cheadle Glass Systems as general manager.
The appointment follows a flurry of recent hires for the business, including a health, safety and quality control manager, as part of the firm’s growth objectives to reach a record year of sales.
Commenting on the recent hire, Andrew Taylor, managing director at Specialist Glass Products, said: “We’ve known John for many years; he’s meticulous, ambitious, strong-minded, and a real people person who is well respected and known in our industry.
“We are thrilled to welcome John to the team, and I am confident he will strengthen our existing management team and be an incredible asset when acting as direct support.”
John added: “I’m very excited to join the SGP team as I’m passionate about helping businesses grow in the glass processing industry and can’t wait to help shape the manufacturers’ very bright future.
“I have over 20 years of experience and knowledge of the manufacturing side of the business, along with a sales and production background. I look forward to using these skills to develop the team and keep our customers’ needs at the heart of everything we do.”
The bespoke glass manufacturer recently featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs and was named in The Manufacturer Top 100 2021 as an Exemplar for its exceptional contribution to the manufacturing sector and as the Examiner Awards’ Business of the Year (over 50+ employees).
The team from Walker & Sutcliffe, the chartered accountants based in Huddersfield, will put their best foot forward on Thursday October 27 as they embark on a 10k sponsored walk to raise funds for the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.
Taking part in The Every Minute Matters campaign, the team will join forces with others from across the region in a bid to collectively raise £300k. What’s more, every pound that is raised will be match-funded, doubling the efforts of all involved.
As a regular fundraiser for the charity, which supports families that experience baby loss across West Yorkshire, Walker & Sutcliffe are asking clients and colleagues to dig deep and make any contributions that they can, however small.
Funds raised during the campaign will be used to provide more than 100 families with support following the loss of a baby. More than 300 people have signed up to take part with donations already topping £128k.
PA to the partners at Walker & Sutcliffe and event coordinator, Kathryn Moore, said: “Come rain, shine or snow, we will be setting off from our offices on Thursday October 27 at 1pm to complete a 10k walk to raise essential funds for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.
“As a business, we have supported the charity for some years and know all about the incredible work they deliver. Coming together with other organisations across the region to prove that Every Minute Matters, we hope to be celebrating our collective efforts as we all strive to achieve the £300k fundraising target.
“We would like to ask our friends, family, colleagues and clients to contribute whatever they can, however small. All donations are very welcome. We are planning the route and will share pictures of our progress across social channels. Wish us luck!”
Any contributions to the Walker & Sutcliffe team for the Every Minute Matters campaign can be made by clicking this link: https://www.charityextra.com/everyminutematters/Walker-Sutcliffe.
Bus company Transdev, which took over the Yorkshire Tiger business and runs services in parts of Huddersfield, has been shortlisted in five categories in the UK bus industry’s biggest celebration of innovation and excellence.
The UK Bus Awards has celebrated the industry’s highest performers for 25 years, with over 450 awards presented in that time to winners throughout the country.
Having sifted through dozens of entries from bus firms across the United Kingdom, senior industry leaders on five expert judging panels have announced their shortlists for the 2022 Awards – and Transdev is in the running for five awards:
- Supporting the Customer Experience – for Transdev’s unique ‘Sky Class’ premium specification twin-deck buses, created with a £5.2 million investment in 19 British-built vehicles, now in service in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Greater Manchester;
- Culture Change – recognising Transdev’s team communications, training, and development, including its 2022 recruitment drive through its network of four Academy centres across the region;
- Marketing – for Transdev’s successful transformation of Team Pennine, which celebrated its first birthday in August, with a £2.5 million investment plus hard work from its 140 people based at Waterloo in Huddersfield and at Elland, delivering an impressive turnaround in performance for customers;
- Partnering for Delivery – Transdev’s dynamic partnership with Harrogate BID, the Business Improvement District supporting local firms, to deliver free journeys on its Harrogate Electrics network on all four Jubilee Holiday days in June 2022. The collaboration, the latest of several partnerships with Harrogate’s business and enterprise leaders since March 2019, reduced traffic congestion while supporting the town’s retail and leisure businesses
- Buses For Pleasure – for ‘Greetings from Yorkshire’, Transdev’s strategic marketing campaign across its networks to turn its bus routes into desirable leisure products while boosting ticketing, visibility, and accessibility to woo sceptical car users and discretionary leisure travellers onto its buses
Transdev CEO Alex Hornby said: “I’m delighted that our talented people will take their place among the nation’s best at these prestigious awards, which recognise the innovation and pride in our teams as they deliver amazing customer service every day, right across the North.
“We continue to respond positively to the challenging times we are all going through, with our customers at the heart of our mission to create buses people are proud to be seen on.”
