Global professional services firm, Aon plc has welcomed four graduates and one industrial placement student to its Leeds office as part of its Early Careers programme. The new recruits will gain meaningful hands-on experience across Actuarial Consulting, Client Management and Investing Consulting. Alongside developing their technical and professional skills, they will work with colleagues and clients while receiving support and guidance from across the firm.

The graduates, Therese Tolan who has joined Aon following a degree in physics at the University of Birmingham, Adil Haider who has joined following studying MORSE (Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics) at the University of Warwick, Ishraat Azad who has joined following studying Business Management with Law at Leeds Beckett University,. Sarah Grogan who has joined Aon after studying Economics at the University of Cambridge and Yuliia Buhera who has joined as an industrial placement student whilst studying BA Economics and Business Management at the University of Sheffield have joined ‘Launch’, Aon’s graduate programme. 'Launch', is designed to support high achievers as they make the transition from university into full-time employment. Through a combination of practical experience, structured development and professional qualifications, the programme equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to build successful long-term careers at Aon. Meanwhile, the industrial placement student, currently in their third year of university, will gain invaluable real-world experience before returning to complete their degree.

Top 10 UK housebuilder, Keepmoat, has appointed a new technical director set to oversee compliance and design management across its Yorkshire East region.

David Major joins the team following significant experience across the sector, including previous roles with McCarthy & Stone and Stewart Milne Home. His career spans more than 28 years across both residential and retirement living.

Based in the housebuilder’s flagship office in Doncaster, David will oversee the technical delivery of every development - from initial site investigations and engineering design through to infrastructure, build quality and compliance with building regulations.



York law firm, Hethertons Solicitors, has appointed Kim Lee as Senior Associate Employment Solicitor, adding more than 30 years of legal experience to its growing team. Kim joins the firm as a Solicitor Advocate with Higher Rights of Audience in criminal proceedings.

His career spans private practice and local government as well as consultancy roles, giving him a well-rounded understanding of how legal issues affect both employers and employees.
Although his expertise covers a wider range of legal fields, Kim has specialised in employment law for a number of years and has acted for individual clients, as well as businesses and public sector organisations in tribunals.



Leeds-headquartered digital marketing and technology group IDHL has appointed former Dentsu leader Alex Wright as Managing Director of Earned and Owned Media, as the business continues to invest in its search, content and AI-driven capabilities.

Headquartered in Leeds, where more than 200 of its 500-plus employees are based, IDHL has grown into one of the UK's largest independent digital marketing groups, with offices across the UK and New York.

Wright will lead the continued evolution of IDHL's search proposition, overseeing capabilities across Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), content, digital PR and outreach to deliver greater value for clients.



Sheffield managed IT, cyber security and AI services provider One2Call has expanded the team at its new office to enhance its exceptional customer service levels.

The company, established in 2007 by Danny Kirkby and Nick Bass and whose services support businesses with managed IT, cloud, connectivity and cyber security, is heavily investing in local talent in customer roles highlighting how important strong customer relationships is to its success and growth.

The firm has appointed Rebecca Masters as Customer Success Manager. She is joined by Lewis Watson, Implementation Manager. Gabriel Williams, Commercial Account Manager, will work closely with customers to understand their business needs, ensuring they receive the right support and strategic guidance from One2Call as they grow. Experienced support agents Ryan Howden and Andrew Marsh join the Service Desk team to support the team handling the more technical day-to-day issues plus more complex planning and remediation.



Yorkshire construction firm Stainforth Construction LLP has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of three new partners, as the business enters its next phase of controlled growth with a £80 million order book.

Ben Whitlock, Dan Hayden and Joe Greenwood have all been promoted from within the business, bringing a combined 65 years of construction industry experience to the partnership and 51 years of collective service with Stainforth.

The appointments form part of a deliberate succession strategy designed to invest in the next generation of leadership while retaining the knowledge, experience and values that have underpinned Stainforth’s development since it was founded in Yorkshire in 1991.



Shakespeare Martineau has appointed two newly qualified solicitors in Sheffield following the successful completion of their training contracts with the full-service law firm.

The appointments reflect the firm’s commitment to supporting the future of the legal profession and creating opportunities for talented individuals to build successful careers.

Freya Whiteside has qualified into the commercial services team, while Lisa Bauroth has joined the tax team.



Scottish Friendly, a UK financial mutual has appointed Scott McNeill as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), subject to regulatory approval.

Scott, who is currently Chief Actuary at Scottish Friendly, will succeed Alan Rankine, who has decided to step down from his role as CFO to pursue a new opportunity outside the organisation.

As part of Scottish Friendly's established succession planning, Scott will assume responsibility for the finance function and will take up the position of an Executive Director of the Board. In addition, Scott will become CFO of the future merged organisation between Scottish Friendly and OneFamily, subject to receiving the necessary approvals.



Freeths has appointed Peter Crawford as managing partner of its Sheffield office, effective from 1 October. Peter joined Freeths in 2015 and heads its Sheffield corporate offering.

Peter will lead the Sheffield office as Freeths continues to look to build and grow its presence in the region and offer clients a unique blend of top-level national legal expertise and international reach, combined with a strong and deep-rooted local presence.

As office managing partner, Peter will work with partners and colleagues from across the office to build on the success of its highly regarded team and continue to provide a local platform for the delivery of high-quality legal advice.



Mills & Reeve has strengthened its family and children team with the appointment of senior associate Roopen Kalirai in Leeds.

Roopen joins a highly regarded team led by partners Jane Ingleby and Andrew Moore, expanding the firm's offering across Yorkshire and the UK. The Leeds team advises clients on a wide range of family law matters. These include complex financial settlements, wealth protection, private children disputes, international family law issues and non-court dispute resolution, such as mediation, collaborative law, separating well with one lawyer and arbitration.