ESSEX based Solicitors Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP have expanded their employment team and appointed a new paralegal.

Cate Hammett completed an English and history degree at the University of Hertfordshire in 2005 and has since worked full time whilst also studying to complete her GDL and LPC, due to be completed in June 2012.

Cate said: “I am delighted to be joining FJG’s successful employment team. I look forward to completing my legal practice course and am pleased to be joining a firm with such a good reputation and a strong commitment to being socially responsible.”

Tony Fisher, senior partner at Fisher Jones Greenwood added: “I am very pleased to welcome Cate to the firm and I am certain that she will prove a valuable addition to our growing employment team.”

THREE new team leaders have been appointed by Ipswich-based claims handling specialists, CAA, to strengthen the team at their Ipswich office.

Matt Woraker, operations manager, said: “This is a new level of management for us, and has become necessary as our staff numbers have grown. Previously all our call centre staff reported to our RMT manager, but with us having more than 50 people now, the job is too big for one person.

“We’ve selected our new recruits on the basis of their complementary skills. While they will be overseeing teams themselves, they’ll also work closely together in sharing their skills and strengths,” he added.

Naomi Vernau joins from RBS, where she headed up the induction programme. She brings valuable training and personnel development skills. Kimberley Bailey has a sales background and was previously employed by insurance brokers, Towergate, managing a customer services team. The third team leader is Kyle Stanway, who has been promoting internally following 18 months at CAA, where he started as a junior trainee.

“We’ve won a lot of new business recently and also been working on a new quality audit programme,” Mr Woraker added. “New business has been won on the strength and reputation of our customer service. To stay ahead we need to continually review our systems and improve where necessary.

“But it is essential too that we have enough trained staff to meet customer needs at all times, so we have a programme of continual recruitment.”

SHAY Lettice, Recovery Partner and Insolvency Practitioner at leading independent chartered accountants, Peters Elworthy & Moore (PEM) in Cambridge, has been appointed eastern regional chairman of the Association of business recovery professionals (R3).

Shay, who joined PEM in 1995, heads the firm’s recovery team and has over 20 years’ experience as a successful insolvency practitioner. With extensive experience dealing with all types of insolvency and recovery situations, Shay provides advice and support to businesses and individuals with financial difficulties.

Shay Lettice took over the role from Laurence Weeks of Taylor Vinters on April 11. During his tenure Shay will raise the profile of members in the region and lead initiatives to increase awareness regionally of the benefits of taking advice from suitably qualified and experienced experts at the first sign of financial trouble.

Commenting on his new appointment, Shay said: “I am delighted to become R3 regional chair and the voice of the profession in East Anglia. As an insolvency practitioner I often work with businesses that are in decline, and I believe the business community should be aware of the vital role that insolvency practitioners play within business. Practitioners spend around a quarter of their time on informal business rescue procedures such as restructuring. However, in order for informal procedures such as this to be a viable option, professional advice should be sought as soon as possible. This is a key message which is especially important in the current climate - and one that I want to communicate to all local businesses”.

CAREBASE, a group of private care homes specialising in dementia care in the South East and East Anglia, is opening a new care home in Colchester this summer. The new Alderwood care home will provide up to 50 jobs for the local community.

Alderwood will be home to 65 spacious en-suite rooms providing nursing, residential and dementia care. The home has been carefully designed to provide the best in care as well as providing residents with outstanding facilities.

Carebase has a unique culture of care and ensures that every resident’s needs are catered for, treating every person like a VIP.

The in-house facilities residents will enjoy include a caf�, bar, cinema, beauty and hair spa, library, therapy rooms and private dining. Along with this Alderwood will have a full activities schedule that includes trips out, tea dances and entertainer visits.

Nicola Coveney, managing director, Carebase, said: “We are delighted to bring Carebase to the Colchester community. Alderwood will provide a fresh approach to care and the home has been designed to fulfil all our residents’ needs. We are also extremely pleased that we will create job opportunities for the local community at the same time.”