Ipswich-based law firm Birketts has appointed eight new trainee solicitors after recently reporting a record turnover of over £32million for the last financial year.

The appointments represent the firm’s annual trainee intake at its Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Norwich offices.

The trainees and their respective first departments at Birketts are Sarina Bailey (property), Hazel Boland-Shanahan (corporate), Emma Bysouth (private client), Natalie Carman (private client), Kristian Nelson (corporate), Gillian Nesbitt (corporate), Nicola Nottidge (property) and Fred Rush (property).

Chief executive Jonathan Agar said: “With a rich heritage spanning over 150 years we’ve built an enviable track record advising our clients but it’s essential that we focus firmly on our future. The financial results cap a strong period of growth for the firm, with turnover almost doubling over the past five years. With office moves planned for Cambridge next year and Ipswich in 2016 this intake join us at a very exciting period in the firm’s history. This year’s new trainees demonstrated that they have a great deal of talent and potential during the interview process and we are looking forward to developing them over the next two years.”

Chartered accountancy firm Larking Gowen has created 16 new posts at its offices in Suffolk and Norfolk as it continues to meet the demand for growth in new clients.

The new recruits are recent graduates and A-level school leavers who will be studying to become either chartered accountants or to take the Association of Accounting Technicians exams.

The firm has ambitious plans to grow the business while maintaining its status as an independent business.

Human resources executive Julie Rainford said: “Having the right number of highly trained staff is vital both now and for the future, to ensure we maintain our high level of client service and this is why we have created these posts. Our new trainees join at a time when the business has also recruited a number of experienced staff.”

A significant amount of work has been done to consolidate the firm’s position in the local business community and to develop its well established reputation for training, she said.

Training will be undertaken across the firm’s offices.

“We are proud of our reputation as one of the best training providers in East Anglia, being accredited at the highest level by AAT, ACA and ACCA,” said Julie.

Jonathan Oates will join Manchester Airports Group (MAG) as External Communications Director on September 15.

MAG operates four airports in the UK (Manchester, London Stansted, East Midlands and Bournemouth), serving more than 40 million passengers, flying to over 250 destinations and handling over half a million tonnes of air freight each year. The business also oversees a substantial property portfolio that includes the ongoing development of the £650m ‘Airport City’ project at Manchester Airport and management of over 200 properties nationwide, serving more than 850 companies.

Jonathan will report into Tim Hawkins, Corporate Affairs Director, and will be responsible for increasing M.A.G’s profile and managing its reputation with national, regional and international stakeholders.

Jonathan will oversee the press offices at each of the four airports in addition to working closely with the company’s senior leadership team and external partners.

Jonathan said: “MAG is at a fascinating time in its evolution and communications will play an increasingly significant role in supporting the ongoing growth of the business.

“I am delighted to be back in-house and working in a sector which I have had a longstanding passion for. There can’t be many companies in the UK that are so firmly placed at the centre of so many interesting issues affecting such a wide variety of audiences.”

Corporate affairs director Tim Hawkins said: “I’m really looking forward to Jonathan coming on board to lead our external communications team. Jonathan’s experience across a range of industries will make a huge contribution to driving the MAG business forward.”