Specialist interim sales and training consultancy Hayward Miller, has announced the appointment of Nancy Pallares as its business development manager.

Nancy, who is already well known in the defence industry, and particularly amongst the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) community, will help to build the Thetford firm’s existing and future business with the Tier 2, Tier 3 and below supply chains, much of which is based around small and medium-sized enterprises.

Most recently, she has been working with a specialist engineering and integration contractor, supporting UK Ministry of Defence on a range of programmes including Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR).

Founder managing director Andrew Hayward said: “Hayward Miller and its clients are very fortunate that Nancy has joined us at this crucial time. Market conditions in the UK defence and security industry are such that companies have to look to international and emerging markets for their future growth. Nancy’s knowledge and experience of key overseas markets,– added to her language fluency and cultural understanding in several of these, will be an enormous asset.”

Nancy said: “I look forward to working with Andy and the team to help clients climb to the next level of their aspirations.”

: : Three solicitors at Suffolk law firm Gotelee are celebrating professional accolades.

Chris Moffat, a chartered legal executive in the medical negligence team, has had her membership of the Law Society Medical Negligence panel extended by five years to 2020.

Only 350 lawyers in England and Wales have the necessary expertise to qualify for this panel. The robust selection criteria are designed to ensure that only lawyers with solid experience in this specialist area of the law can qualify.

Tim Humpage, law firm partner and head of the medical negligence team, said: “As well as adding to the strength of the medical negligence team at Gotelee this is a well deserved recognition of the hard work and dedication Chris has shown over many years in helping her clients cope with the often life changing consequences when medical treatment goes wrong.”

Mark White, another member of the team, has recently completed the CILEx Level 6 Graduate Fast-track Diploma.

Mark joined the firm with a law degree and for two years has been in the medical negligence department working on live negligence cases. During this busy time he has also studied to become a legal executive.

Tim said: “It is an arduous task working full time in this role and studying for the CILEx Level 6, so Mark has done extremely well achieving this qualification.

“We are a local firm which believes in growing our own skilled and local lawyers, Mark is recognition of the good local talent we have here at Gotelee and I am confident he will have a long and successful career with us.”

Mark plans on furthering his development while continuing to work in the department prior to starting his LPC part-time in September next year.

“Gotelee has been very supportive of me during my CILEx qualification and it’s been really helpful combining the practical side of learning with the theory. The next step for me will be becoming a chartered legal executive,” he said.

Family partner Ivana Radovic has recently completed the Resolution Foundation Mediation training which will enable her to help couples who are in the process of separating or have separated from one another to resolve issues through mediation as an alternative to court proceedings.

“I’m really looking forward to building a strong mediation practice at Gotelee and improving my knowledge and skills so as to be able to better support clients in all aspects of their relationship breakdown, be it unmarried or married couples,” she said.

: : Manufacturers’ organisation EEF has made a milestone appointment in the East of England.

David Fagan is the new regional manager following the creation of the new role in a recent restructure.

Richard Halstead takes the reins as region director for the Midlands and East, while David will be based in EEF’s Cambridge office and will work with Richard and the rest of his team to ensure that East of England manufacturers are supported in growing their businesses and staying up-to-date on key issues such as health and safety, sustainability, regulation and legal requirements.

David graduated from Newcastle University three years ago and has subsequently held account management roles at a business solutions provider and at a national waste management and recycling facilitator. His new role will see him talking to locally-based manufacturers to understand their strategic requirements and to ensure that they are getting the right support and expertise from EEF to help them develop and grow.

Richard said: “We’re delighted to welcome David into this newly created role. His appointment is an important milestone as it signifies a step change in the level of support we can offer to this region’s manufacturers. It is about getting more boots on the ground – particularly here in the East of England – so that we can spend more time with companies and significantly boost our backing of local manufacturers.

“Manufacturing is forging ahead, but there are still challenges ahead and David will be critical for signposting businesses to our HR, health and safety, legal, environmental and business growth experts, who will be able to provide in-depth expertise to meet their individual needs.”

David said he was “delighted” to be appointed to the role.

“I’m looking forward to working with them to ensure they have every support they need in order to grow,” he said.

: : Chartered accountancy firm LB Group has appointed Sharon Wright as its new accounts manager based at its Ipswich office.

Sharon, who has been Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualified since 2011 and has more than eight years’ experience in practice, will be responsible for managing the delivery of the accounts and corporate tax compliance work on a portfolio of clients while helping and developing others in the team.

“I am excited to take this opportunity to join LB Group and be involved in the continuing growth of the practice and promoting the values of the company,” she said.

“As a forward thinking organisation, LB Group are able to offer me the opportunity for self-development and a fulfilling career. I look forward to building relationships with clients and providing a professional service, which meets the clients’ expectations, along with helping to build and continually develop our team.”

: : An Ipswich technician has celebrated 35 years with the same employer.

Glenn Morgan has spent his entire working life at Wolsey Van Centre and puts his commitment down to the company’s friendly atmosphere.

He was recently presented with a Volkswagen long service award in recognition of his exceptional service to the brand.

Glenn joined the Volkswagen Sproughton Road business in 1979, straight from school, and began his career as an apprentice technician.

Having developed his expertise Glenn is now in a more senior role and assists with mentoring the company’s young talent.After 15 years with Volkswagen passenger cars, Glenn moved to the commercial vehicles division where he has remained.

Glenn said: “I have always enjoyed my time at Wolsey Van Centre; is it really interesting to see how the range has evolved and how the industry has changed.

“The best part about my job is the friendly atmosphere and the team I work with – they are a great bunch. The company is really supportive and has a lovely family approach, which has made the job enjoyable. I feel very lucky and truly believe this is the reason I have stayed.”

David Nichols, head of business at Wolsey Volkswagen Van Centre, said: “To work for 35 years at one company is a remarkable achievement in this day and age. We really appreciate the loyalty Glenn has shown to us.

“Glenn’s expertise makes him a valuable member of our team and his knowledge of the vehicles and brand further enhances the service we can offer our customers.”

Five other employees at the van centre also received long service recognition. They were David Nichols and David Ross who have each served 10 years and Gemma Groom, Sue Sewell and James Cooper who have all completed five years.

Sister company Volkswagen Van Centre Bury St Edmunds, has two employees, John Clarke, sales executive, and Gerald Payne, aftersales manager, who have each accumulated 15 years’ service with the Volkswagen brand.