BT has welcomed 93 new graduate recruits to its research and innovation headquarters at Adastral Park, Martlesham Heath.

The new graduates took part in a week long induction at the park to give them an introduction and insights into their new roles within the company.

Managing director Dr Tim Whitley said: “Adastral Park is the home of BT’s research and innovation. Technologies developed here now underpin many of the ways we communicate, transmit data and interact with each other every day.

“I’m delighted to welcome the 2014 intake of graduates. These are exciting times for BT and it is fabulous to see so many high calibre young people joining the company to drive us forward. And it especially pleasing that so many will join us in Suffolk at our R&D Headquarters.”

Graduate recruit Caroline Espley-Jones said: “The more I heard about BT and what it does, the more sure I was that this was where I belonged as the first step in my career.”

Fellow recruit Ashley Nixon said: “My first impression was how polite and willing to help everybody is; there is a real sense that everybody wants you to succeed which is great. I’m looking forward to working with some great minds on some exciting projects over the next two years as a grad, and beyond.”

BT announced earlier this year that it was creating more than 100 new graduate jobs and apprenticeships in East Anglia with bulk of these roles to be based at Adastral Park, and the new intake is a result of that.

Law firm Ashton KCJ has welcomed a new solicitor, Alexandra Pilc, to its commercial property team in Ipswich.

Alexandra is based at Ashton KCJ’s iconic Waterfront House office on Wherry Quay in Ipswich. She qualified as a solicitor in 2009 whilst at DLA Piper in London from where she joins Ashton KCJ.

While at DLA Piper Alexandra was seconded to both Clydesdale Bank and National Australia Bank to provide advice and support to their real estate teams.

She will focus on the sale and purchase of freehold and leasehold premises, management of investment properties, development work and landlord and tenant matters.

Head of commercial property Charles Webb said: “We are delighted to welcome Alexandra to the team and are pleased to be attracting so much new talent to the firm. Her recruitment is an important part of our strategy to continue to grow our commercial property services across the region and follows closely on the heels of the recruitment of Simon Burnip into the team earlier in the year.”

25 year old travel professional Danielle Dudley, a sales manager with Fred. Olsen Travel based in Olympus Close, Ipswich, has fought off nationwide competition to be recognised as one of “the travel industry’s most inspiring young people”, an accolade which also recognises Danielle’s outstanding contribution to her employer.

Danielle, who was one of 30 contenders selected from thousands aged under 30, is one of less than 100 young people to have been invited to participate in `Tomorrow’s Travel Leaders: 30 under 30’ in the three years since the initiative was introduced by travel trade magazine TTG and travel giant Tui Travel plc.

As part of a year of opportunities to progress her career, Danielle wins automatic membership to the Institute of Travel and Tourism and she will be invited to numerous travel networking dinners and events. She will also be profiled in TTG.

In her role with Fred. Olsen Travel, Danielle has worked as UK sales manager for prestigious tall ship cruise line Star Clippers for the past five years and previously worked at Peter Deilmann River & Ocean Cruises.

Peter Long, chief executive at Tui Travel Plc, said she was “recognised as a dynamic, inspirational individual and a potential future leader in the (travel) industry”.

Daniel Pearce, managing director of TTG Media, said: “Tomorrow’s Travel Leaders not only celebrates the travel industry’s young stars but also gives them a real opportunity to learn from some of the most senior people in the industry as well as each other. I’d personally like to congratulate Danielle Dudley on making it to the final 30.”

Danielle said: “I have always loved travelling and my mum has worked in travel for many years, so it seemed a natural progression for me to find a job in the industry. I’ve a real passion for my work, I love sales and I enjoy meeting different people in the course of my week. And then of course there are the wonderful tall ship cruises that have taken me throughout the Mediterranean, to the Caribbean, Central America and Cuba – and it’s all in a day’s work!”

A building company has said goodbye to two members of staff who have together clocked up 80 years of service.

Stephen Henery has retired after nearly 50 years at Bennett Homes, Nowton, near Bury St Edmunds.

He started as an apprentice decorator, working with his father and rose through to ranks to become general manager.

His partner Julia Gathercole has also worked for Bennett Homes as a personal assistant for more than 30 years and is now leaving the company to share Stephen’s retirement. The couple live in Lakenheath.

Managing director Edward Parker said: “As a company we have always benefitted from our loyal team of staff, many of whom have completed over 25 years’ service. However in the case of Stephen, his 50 years is exceptional and we owe him a huge thank you for everything he has contributed to our success.

“It has also been our policy to enable staff to progress their careers with us as has been the case with Stephen. We wish him a long and very happy retirement with Julia.”

Exceptional site manager Derek Ratcliffe has been named as an East regional champion in home warranty provider the National House-Building Council’s (NHBC) 34th annual Pride in the Job Awards.

He was selected from around 15,000 site managers across the country and was one of five recognised at a ceremony held at the Athena in Leicester in September, scooping the Small Builder category for his Park Gate site in Ipswich. He is shortlisted for the competition’s Supreme Gala Final in January, where the national champions will be announced.

Regional director Richard Hartshorn said: “Derek is building some of the very best houses in the UK, demonstrating consistently high standards, and is in the top half a percent of his profession. Anyone buying a home built by one of our winners’ can do so with confidence in its workmanship and quality.”

Derek, an industry veteran who started out as an apprentice carpenter in 1973, said: “I like to think I’m fairly easy going, which I believe gets the best out of other people you work with. It’s really encouraging to be recognised for all the effort we as a team put into our buildings and keeps our standards high.”

Accountancy firm KPMG has appointed Dean Harris as head of tax for the firm’s two offices in East Anglia.

Mr Harris, who went to school in Stoke-by-Nayland and Great Cornard, is returning with his family to the region following five years working as associate tax partner at KPMG’s Newcastle office. He joined KPMG in 1993 and has worked in several regional offices, including Edinburgh, Leeds and London. During his time at KPMG he has worked with a wide spectrum of businesses from multi-national groups, AIM listed and large privately owned business but it is his extensive experience of working with hi-tech and life science start ups that makes him ideal for KPMG’s East of England practice.

Dean will join the Ipswich and Cambridge offices at the end of September where he will head up the tax team and work alongside other tax partners James Prince, who heads up KPMG’s indirect tax, and Dan Crowther who heads up private client in the region.

Senior partner for the region Steve Muncey said they were “delighted” to welcome Dean.