Law firm Ashton KCJ has taken on Simon Burnip and Laura Veal at its Ipswich office, with James Griffiths, commercial property partner, also joining the Ipswich office from the firm’s Kempson Way office in Bury St Edmunds.

James, who trained with the firm and has been with Ashton KCJ since 1998, will be heading the commercial property team in Ipswich.

Simon joins the firm as associate in the commercial property department. Since completing his training at a firm in Essex in 2005, he has been working at another regional firm in Ipswich.

Laura joins the firm as a solicitor in its residential conveyancing department. She has practised in Suffolk since qualifying as a solicitor in 2002. She deals with freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, mortgages and remortgages, transfers of equity, deeds of gift and equity release.

Chief executive Edward O’Rourke said: “These appointments strengthen both our commercial presence and our individual client offering in Ipswich, underlying our commitment to continuing to provide the best possible service to our clients.”

: : Construction site worker Gary Fowler from Bury St Edmunds has scooped the construction delivery award and the overall winner’s prize in the Duke of Gloucester’s Young Achievers Scheme.

The shortlisted candidates joined more than 200 senior industry figures and HRH the Duke of Gloucester at an awards evening at the Underglobe, London where the winners were announced. The finalists were judged by a panel of industry experts through a rigorous process of presentations and interviews earlier in the year.

Gary, a 28 year old site agent at

J Breheny Contractors, impressed THE judges with his enthusiasm for the industry and his drive and determination.

Gary started his career as a footballer but an injury brought his career to an early end. Gary said: “This left me unmotivated and with no idea of a career path for my future. Thankfully I was offered the chance to join Breheny as a groundworker to earn some money while I decided on a career choice.

“I soon gained the motivation and found that I really enjoyed working in construction; it didn’t take long to realise that if I worked hard I could have a successful career in construction.”

Despite starting as a ground worker with little practical or management experience or expertise Gary has now progressed to the role site agent on one of Breheny’s major projects.

: : Framlingham optometrist Alison Blake has joined independent East Anglian opticians Dipple & Conway

Alison has 23 years’ experience in the eyecare industry and has relocated to Suffolk with her husband Philip. She qualified as a dispensing optician in 1994, as an optometrist in 1999, and previously worked for a prestigious private eye hospital,

Dipple & Conway, which operates from practice premises in Diss, Norwich and Swaffham, has also announced three further appointments.

Practice manager Neil McDonald will work across the company’s three sites. Maciek Dudkiewicz has qualified as a dispensing optician and former Diss High School and sixth form student Kerrie Eastaugh has qualified as a clinical assistant.

Brothers James, Damian and Robert Conway, who co-own the business, say they are delighted at the appointments.

“Watching them progress is fantastic. Dipple & Conway has always promoted from within where we can,” said James. “Identifying flair and aptitude and then providing the right training to develop it for the benefit of both the individual and the business is an important part of what we do.” n Stacy Lewis, who launched Lewis Safety & Training Limited in July to provide a service to help clients manage health and safety in the workplace, has moved her business to NWES Enterprise Centre in Bury St Edmunds.

Stacy is a chartered health and safety practitioner specialising in construction safety.

: : Ipswich-based Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines has appointed Tom Dumbrell as its new area sales executive, covering the Central, Home Counties and East Anglia regions. He will report to regional sales manager for the South of England, Angela Flynn.

He will be responsible for working closely with travel agents and organisations who already sell Fred. Olsen cruises, helping them with sales, marketing, training and promotional activities, and ensuring that they are kept informed of Fred. Olsen’s latest news and developments. Tom will also be seeking to increase and develop Fred. Olsen’s business within his area.

Tom previously worked for Capita in Lancashire as a business improvement analyst. Prior to that, he was business-to-business group sales team leader for STA Travel in Liverpool, and reservations services supervisor for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines for three years.

Angela said: “I am delighted to welcome Tom to the team. Having worked for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines previously, he has excellent product knowledge and is very familiar with what makes a Fred. Olsen cruise such a great experience. I am sure that Tom will make a very valuable contribution to our relationships with agents and organisations within his area.”

: :Austin Brydon has joined Beckett Financial Services in Bury St Edmunds as employee benefits consultant to help handle its pensions business.

“The combination of pension scheme management experience and high level industry qualifications means Austin can help employers right away,” said Nicola Prince, director of employee benefits at Becketts.

“He understands the demands the current pension legislation places on businesses to provide workplace pensions.”

Austin draws on more than 20 years’ experience in financial services including spells at Prudential, Legal & General and PKF. His practical experience is backed up with a Chartered Insurance Institute Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning, including G60 Pensions.

: : Hughes Electrical has promoted Ashley Shorey-Mills to area manager covering Suffolk and Essex. He was previously branch manager at the company’s store on Ransomes industrial park in Ipswich and ran the Hughes Smart Home service, a role in which he will continue.

Ashley has been at Hughes since he was a schoolboy, having originally undertaken work experience while still at school in his native Colchester before joining full time on leaving 15 years ago.

“I am really looking forward to my new role getting out and about in the branches and working with my colleagues to help them further improve their customer service and drive the business forward,” said Mr Shorey-Mills. “It is also a perfect opportunity to meet customers and hear what they have to say.”

: : Matt Smith has joined Gipping Construction as a senior estimator based in Baylham, Ipswich and brings 25 years’ experience of main contracting covering a wide range of construction contracts including heritage and prestigious projects.