Square One Law has announced the promotion of Bal Manak to Construction Partner.

Having held the position of Senior Associate in the law firm’s property team for two and a half years, she will lead the development of Square One Law’s Construction service across West Yorkshire, Tees Valley and the North East.

With a specialism in non-contentious construction and more than 16 years’ experience of advising clients on a wide range of commercial developments, Bal has been involved in a variety of high-profile schemes operating out of Square One Law’s offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Darlington.

She has been recognised as a rising star in the construction law field having been listed in the 2021 edition of the Chambers Guide as ‘an associate to watch’ in the North East construction sector.

Bal said: “The North of England is experiencing some strong levels of regeneration and construction activity in both residential and commercial sectors, which is generating a variety of projects for our clients.”

Gill Hunter, Managing Partner, said: “Our clients are involved in so many complex property and construction projects where Bal has provided key strategic and tactical advice. She has built great relationships with those she has worked with, both inside and outside of the firm and I’m delighted that she is becoming a partner.”

 

 

Teesside-based Lemon Contact Centre has appointed an expert with an extensive track record as its Human Resources Manager.

Paul Ovington, who has more than three decades’ experience in the field of HR, has joined the company, which is located at Lockheed Court, Preston Farm Business Park, Stockton,

For 22 years he was a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer HR in the RAF where he was responsible for Squadron and Station HR functions. He served for a further seven years as a full-time Reservist in a HR capacity.

The 49-year-old has also worked as a HR business partner with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, where he provided advice to assist with the delivery of organisational strategies, plans, projects, and objectives for more than 600 staff.

Jen Cummins, Lemon’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Lemon is committed to nurturing a supportive culture throughout the business and Paul’s know-how and devotion will help us further embed this ethos as we grow and develop.”

Paul said: “My main focus will be to help Lemon achieve its goals, retain and attract a high calibre of staff and support employees to reach their full potential within the workplace.”

Paul, who lives in Yarm, is a FA level 1 qualified football coach and in his spare time, enjoys spending time with his family and supports Middlesbrough FC.

 

 

Smart Works Newcastle, a charity that helps unemployed women back into work, has appointed a new member to its Board of Trustees - Julie Cuthbertson, Corporate Finance Manager at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors.

Julie said “Smart Works is making a real difference to so many women who are seeking employment across the North East, and I am delighted to have secured a position alongside the existing board at this exciting time as we plan to double the number of women we support.”

 

 

A leading sustainable mechanical, electrical and plumbing design consultancy has made several key promotions across the business as it steps up its strategic growth plans.
Black and White Engineering, with offices around the globe, has announced the appointment of Scott Wilson as UK and Europe regional head of sustainability, three technical directors, Charlie Bater, Karl Snowball and Grant Dalgleish, who were previously associate directors, and two new associate directors, Jonathan Robinson-Hoare and Craig England, who step up from principal engineer roles.
In the last 12 months, the consultancy has grown its UK and Europe headcount by 83%, and now employs a number of specialists across the UK with offices in Newcastle, Edinburgh and London. 
As the new UK and Europe regional head of sustainability - previously UK head of sustainability at B&W - Scott is responsible for the development and delivery of B&W’s sustainability agenda, both as a business and in the projects delivered for clients. Scott and his team’s specific sector experience and depth of technical knowledge enable B&W to position themselves as a leading MEP design consultancy for innovative, sustainable design, nationally and globally.
He said: “Our sustainability expertise has played a key role in our growth and seen us secure large-scale projects, including data centre design, as well as commercial property, such as Sedgefield-based NetPark, where low carbon design is fundamental and Warwick Building in Kensington, a refurbishment project targeting BREEAM Excellent and WELL Gold that will almost half its current carbon emissions.”
Technical directors Charlie Bater, Karl Snowball and Grant Dalgleish have a combined 45 years of experience in the MEP design sector. Karl has specific expertise in technical delivery and the development and implementation of Building Information Modelling. Charlie is highly experienced in project delivery and Grant is a seasoned building services electrical engineer who leads the MEP design process.
New associate directors Jonathan Robinson-Hoare and Craig England have both been with B&W for over two years in their specialist engineering design roles.

 

 

CTS UK, the North Yorkshire-based business supply chain specialists, have strengthened their talented team with two senior appointments.
CTS UK is a market leader in personalised uniforms, workwear, promotional products, personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning and hygiene products.
Thanos Klonis and Paul Mundy join the Northallerton-based firm at a pivotal stage in its development in the wake of a record-breaking year.
Thanos is the company’s new Group IT Systems Manager, while Paul joins as the Group Consolidation Specialist.
Howard Gill, CTS UK’s Managing Director, commented: “These are two very significant appointments, which will help to build on the substantial progress we have made during the past two years.
“Thanos’s appointment allows CTS and our newly purchased company, Safeguard Supplies Ltd, to seamlessly interface internally and with our customers. Thanos will also streamline and improve the whole business’s IT systems to support our continued and sustainable growth.
“Meanwhile Paul’s tremendous enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of supply chain sales, especially of the cleaning and hygiene sector, will enable us to extend our reach into this very fertile area.
“Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, CTS is expanding quickly, with increased turnover and profits in 2021, new premises in Northallerton, new clients and brand-new state-of-the-art machinery.” Thanos, who has previously worked for the Billingham-based NYMAS Group and Barrett Steel, explained: “The speed of growth of CTS UK means that an integrated IT system is crucially important, both internally and externally. It is my responsibility to take CTS’s IT systems to the next level.”
Paul Mundy, who joins CTS from the Leicester-based Merton Group, said: “This is an absolutely dream job for me. I’m much closer to home  and I’m joining a company which is really going places.”