n EAST Anglian charity Out & About has appointed a new communications manager who will be responsible for all external publicity for the charity.

Barbara King, who has worked for the charity since 2005, has extensive experience of the aims of the charity. Since 1984, Out & About has enabled disabled children and young people from Suffolk to enjoy their choice of mainstream, leisure activity – the ordinary, everyday activities that all children want to enjoy.

The organisation does this by supporting children at their chosen activity with volunteers who share similar interests. Activities can range from sport to cinema, craft to clubbing, and art to archery.

Over the last year, the charity has expanded its services across the east of England and this year Out & About will be supporting disabled children across Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Essex, Thurrock and Luton. Ms King will have a pivotal role in promoting the work of the charity to a wide audience.

n A HUMAN resources expert has launched a new business offering practical employment advice and support to small and medium-sized businesses.

Peter Bailes, from Carlton Colville near Lowestoft, has opened The HR Dept for East Norfolk and North Suffolk to serve companies across Acle, Beccles, Bungay, Diss, Great Yarmouth, Halesworth, Harleston, Long Stratton and surrounding areas, enabling smaller firms to access tools and expertise usually employed by large organisations with in-house HR professionals.

The business will act as a human resources department for local employers with Peter working remotely or with clients at their places of work, helping to prevent people problems by ensuring businesses have all the advice and information they need on HR issues, contracts and handbooks, performance and absence management, recruitment and retention of staff, disciplinary and grievance procedures and staff surveys.

The HR Dept also specialises in managing restructuring or redundancy and offers an unlimited use employment advice line.

Mr Bailes has worked in management for over 20 years including 10 years at director level and has previously owned his own business. He was most recently HR Director for Desira Group Plc, an automotive dealer group based across East Anglia and North London, managing a large and diverse workforce. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

“Initial interest has been strong especially from businesses looking for help with managing sickness absence and introducing policies before the World Cup which traditionally sees ‘sick leave’ increase massively,” said Mr Bailes, who plans to recruit a team of advisors and expand into new larger premises as the business grows.

The HR Dept was launched in Bristol in 2003 by Sue Tumelty, a senior experienced human resources professional.

The company now has 38 offices in England and Wales, each owned and managed by experienced HR professionals backed by the support and resources of the HR Dept organisation.

n IPSWICH-based design and marketing agency 2Cs continues to expand with the appointment of Paul Bennett as its new web developer.

Last year 2Cs added an impressive nine people to the team and continues to grow this year with additional projects and new clients. Mr Bennett has extensive experience in web development and online systems, starting his career as an online project officer for the Highways Agency. His subsequent roles include ecommerce executive at FirstPlus, part of Barclays Bank Plc, and web developer at the Access Group.

At 2Cs he will be working within the web development team, which builds about 100 websites a year for a variety of clients, from high-design property sites and full ecommerce enabled retail sites through to multilingual business portals. As part of its digital service offering, 2Cs manages search marketing, email marketing and online advertising as well as interactive media, analytics and consultancy.

Managing director Bob Woolliams said: “We have an impressive client portfolio and Paul’s varied background and expertise in web development and content management make him ideally suited to deliver top quality results to our clients.”

n UNITED Oilseeds has announced the appointment of two new area managers to its local support team.

The new appointments have been made in order to improve the level of service and support that members of United Oilseeds receive in terms of crop marketing assistance as well as agronomic advice and seed selection guidance. Both recruits will also be responsible for recruiting new members to United Oilseeds.

Nick Mecrow joins United Oilseeds as area manager for Essex and Hertfordshire. He has a wealth of sales and marketing experience in both the arable and feed sectors. After graduating with a BSc honours degree in agriculture, he spent 17 years at BOCM Pauls working his way up to national dairy market manager.

He subsequently spent five years working as a regional sales manager for Allied Grain, and more recently ran his own consultancy business within the transport and logistics sector.

Nigel Watson joins United Oilseeds with a proven track record in agricultural machinery sales throughout the North of England, and will provide area manager support in West, South and East Yorkshire.

“Nigel and Nick bring with them a wealth of varied agricultural experience,” said managing director Chris Baldwin.

“Their combined expertise will add a greater depth to our existing team of eight area managers who are on-hand to offer independent and impartial agronomic and marketing advice to the company’s members.”

n ALAN Ridealgh, managing director of Stowmarket-based maltings and malted ingredients manufacturer Muntons plc, was caught by surprise at a recent managers meeting when the chairman of the company interrupted proceedings to announce his long service award.

Tom Wells, chairman of Muntons, presented Alan Ridealgh with a framed certificate and a corporate gift to mark his 30 years of service with the company.

Mr Wells outlined his career developments since he joined the company in 1980 as a trainee grain buyer at the firm’s Bridlington maltings through to the time he was appointed managing director in 2006.

“Alan has consistently risen to every challenge that has been passed his way and it is really pleasing for me personally to be here today to be able to mark this moment,” he said.

Mr Ridealgh said: “It is amazing how quickly the time has passed – a real testament to the qualities of the company and the people at Muntons who have made my time here so interesting and enjoyable. I am really looking forward to the next 30 years!”