Antony Alexander, a former product support aanager at Ransomes Jacobsen, the Ipswich-based manufacturer of commercial mowing equipment, has been promoted to product manager, joining the existing two product managers based in the UK and the team of three based in the USA.

Reporting to Richard Comely, director of global product management, he will manage the development and enhancement of Ransomes and Jacobsen products primarily built in the Ipswich manufacturing plant, but serving market sectors in trading territories around the world.

In 2003 Antony took up a mechanical engineering position with SRC Systems Ltd, a specialist manufacturer of machines for the print finishing industry before moving on to a local motorcycle dealership where, among other duties, he test drove Triumph and Honda pre-production bikes, the ideal job for a motorcycle enthusiast. His next move was to Universal Converting Equipment, again in the print finishing sector, as a Service and Installation Engineer, where he also attended West Suffolk College gaining a City & Guilds Level II Diploma in Electro-technical technology. He then joined PetroTechnik, specialists in underground services in the fuel retailing sector and travelled extensively in South-East Asia as a customer support engineer. He joined Ransomes Jacobsen in a product support role in 2011.

Richard Comely said: “Antony has had recent in-depth understanding of the sectors our products serve, in addition to his technical understanding of electrics, hydraulics and pneumatics, which will bring further expertise to the product management team here in Ipswich. With some exciting new product developments and innovations in the pipeline, he will be a great asset to the business. Once again, we are promoting from within and, in the process, providing career opportunities for our highest performing employees.”

: : East Anglian law firm Ashton KCJ has appointed Claire Sleep, who joins the firm’s employment team in Cambridge as an associate.

Claire joins the firm from Eversheds LLP in Cambridge, where she was based for seven years.

Having worked in employment law since 2003, Claire has represented a broad range of employers and employees on HR advisory work, as well as advising on the employment aspects of company sales and reorganisations. She has significant experience in handling employment tribunal and employment appeal tribunal matters.

Claire is a member of the Employment Lawyer’s Association. She regularly carries out training for organisations on a wide range of employment law issues, devising bespoke training material depending on the needs of the organisation.

Claire’s appointment takes Ashton KCJ’s amployment team to 11, which includes aead of team, Ross Strowger who is based in the Norwich office, solicitor Abi Adams, who is based in Ipswich, consultant Hywel Griffiths and solicitor Carrie March, who are based in its Cambridge office.

: : Neil Mitchell has joined Charles Stanley & Co as a private client financial planning and wealth management consultant based at its Ipswich Branch in Lower Brook Street.

With more than 20 years’ experience in providing financial advice, predominantly to clients of accountancy practices, but latterly as an independent financial adviser, Neil will enhance Charles Stanley’s existing financial planning capability across the East Anglia region.

The firm said it was delighted to welcome Neil to the team.

: : Self-catering holiday specialists, cottages4you, based at Earby in Lancashire, has appointed a new regional manager for the East of England area, covering Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Jenny Ramsbottom, a Suffolk resident for 30 years, will manage more than 260 properties currently available for holiday letting in the area.

Jenny said: “I’ve worked for the company for nearly 30 years in a variety of roles covering boating, parks and lodges as well as cottages. I’m passionate about being a regional manager and you could say my job is also my main hobby. I can’t wait to meet new owners and properties, help them get started and keep an eye on booking levels.”

Property operations director Wendy Halliday said: “We’re thrilled to have Jenny on board. Being a local resident, she has great local knowledge and can advise on where to buy and what to expect from those honeypot areas to those in the mid country. Jenny is passionate about the East of England and her background means she’s perfectly qualified to support our local owners and promote the area as a tourist destination.”

: : Sam Tydeman has been appointed as the new partner in charge of estate agents Smiths Gore’s Newmarket office.

Sam, who will be supported by longstanding partner, Bennett Swayne, will lead an established team from the Fordham Road office offering the full spectrum of rural property consultancy services including the sale and valuation of agricultural land, farms, racing yards, stud farms, estate and farm management and residential lettings.

Sam previously worked for the firm in York where he was based for 10 years but has returned to his roots as his family farms in Mid Suffolk.

“I am delighted to have returned home and I am looking forward to growing the business from an established base in the region,” he said.

“This is an exciting time for the land, estate and equine property market; farmland in Suffolk and the neighbouring counties is highly sought after with values increasing all the time.”

Colleague Robert Childerhouse was also successful in the latest round of the firm’s national promotions and has been appointed as associate. Robert, who manages clients farms and estates across East Anglia, has been with the firm for six years.

: : A new human resources firm specialising in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) has launched in Suffolk.

Paula Phelan and Emma Sheppard, who together have more than 30 years’ HR experience, have set up P.S.Human Resources in Felixstowe and Ipswich, which is aimed at providing people management solutions for smaller businesses.

Chartered Fellow CIPD, Paula said: “Many smaller businesses see the need for HR but don’t always have the resources to devote to it. Failure to get to grips with changing legislation can be costly, if things go wrong. In April this year, Employment tribunals will have the power to impose financial penalties on employers who have lost a case so making sure there are robust HR processes and practices in place is a must for SMEs. Changes in the law regarding parental leave and flexible working being potentially available to all will require companies to change their current policies and procedures.”

“By pooling our knowledge, experience and expertise our clients will be able to gain significant and innovative people management improvements at a cost which suits the size of their organisation.”

Fellow director, Emma Sheppard, MCIPD, has a background in shipping and forwarding, management and training and development. She achieved a distinction in HR outsourcing and SMEs in her post graduate degree in HR management.

She said: “We love working with SMEs and getting to know their business in order to provide them with the best advice and service. Our aim is to provide a tailored service, rather than an off the shelf, one size fits all approach. By being visible within our clients’ organisations we reduce the pressure on managers, so that they can devote their time and energies into the operations of their business, safe in the knowledge that we are taking care of their HR.”

As well as designing and implementing HR policies, procedures and processes, Emma and Paula continue to attend CPD events ensuring P.S. Human Resources stays up to date with industry updates allowing them to offer the best service to their clients. Both Paula and Emma have written and delivered management development training workshops and courses such as communication skills, time management, sickness management and conduct and capability.

Paula said: “Ultimately a happy and engaged workforce is a more productive one and it is P.S. Human Resources’ aim to add value to their clients and show how instrumental HR can be with increasing the bottom line.”