John Niland, Provide’s chief executive, is working with the Essex Business School (EBS) at the University of Essex as an honorary professor.

Provide is a Colchester-based social enterprise delivering a broad range of health and care community services across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. The organisation has worked with the university on a number of projects over the years. John’s honorary professorship is for one year.

John said: “I am delighted to have been awarded an honorary professorship from the University of Essex. Provide has worked with the university on various projects over the years and it has been very interesting and thought-provoking. We have lots of exciting opportunities to work on in the months ahead.

“Whilst I have been awarded the honorary professorship, it belongs to the organisation. It demonstrates the successful partnership that Provide and Essex University have created by working on innovative projects, which a number of Provide staff have been involved in. My thanks to the university for recognising Provide’s contribution.”

Dr Martin Harris, a senior lecturer at Essex Business School, said: “As honorary professor, John plays a vital role in helping Essex Business School to better understand the challenges and opportunities within healthcare management, so we can further our research into health and social care innovation. Together, we’ll share knowledge and expertise in order to develop new forms of advocacy, strategic communications and outreach to practitioner and policy audiences to improve integration across the sector.

“We look forward to all we will achieve together and wish Professor Niland a warm welcome to our school.”

•Law firm Prettys has expanded its private client service offering by launching a dedicated personal injury and insurance team.

The new team has been established following an increase in demand from clients. The firm, based at Ipswich and Chelmsford, has recently welcomed two new solicitors. Louise Plant and Michael Freebury bring significant expertise and knowledge to the existing insurance experience at the firm.

The new team will cover a wide range of issues including road traffic accident compensation, accidents at work, serious injury claims, slips, trips and falls, criminal injuries compensation claims and medical negligence.

Partner Peter Blake said: “We understand the needs and requirements of our clients and by creating a dedicated personal injury and Insurance team, we can offer the right level of expertise and support for a range of issues.”

•Suffolk estate agents Flick & Son has expanded Halesworth branch with the appointment of Grace Young as

sales manager.

She has helped to strengthen sales departments at its branches in Saxmundham and Leiston since joining the company four years ago. Grace has been involved in estate agency for almost a decade having previously gained experience at two other well-known agencies in the county.

Having lived in Suffolk nearly all her life, Grace says her considerable local knowledge is a great advantage.

“Flick & Son prides itself on a qualified team offering expert advice and with a thorough understanding of the differing market conditions across Flick & Son’s diverse area of Suffolk. I’m thrilled to be joining the team in Halesworth and look forward to serving our new and existing clients,” she said.

Grace will work alongside Mark Stewart, who established the Halesworth branch in 2003 and remains a property consultant for the company.

•The New Anglia Skills Board for Norfolk and Suffolk has a new chairman.

Former chief executive of Ipswich Building Society Paul Winter MBE takes over from Adnams chief executive Andy Wood OBE, who is standing down after chairing the board since its inception in 2014.

Paul retired as chief executive of Ipswich Building Society at the end of 2016 after a career in the financial sector. A former chair of the Greater Ipswich City Deal, Paul is also on the board of the University of Suffolk and a non-executive director of the Teachers Building Society. He was appointed MBE in 2015 for his work on improving the skills and employability of young people in Suffolk.

Paul said: “I am looking forward to playing a part in improving skills in the East. I am fortunate to be involved in a Board which has grown in strength and effectiveness in the three years since it was set up. This is in no small part due to the efforts of my predecessor, Andy Wood.”

Andy stands down after three years as Skills board chair, a role he took on following three years as the inaugural chair of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.

During his time as Skills Board Chair Andy has overseen a number of key strategic skills initiatives for Norfolk and Suffolk, including multi million pound capital investments at the College of West Anglia, East Coast College, Easton & Otley College and West Suffolk College, and the development of the New Anglia Youth Pledge Marque – awarded to businesses which make commitments to apprenticeships, work experience or engaging with schools and colleges

He also oversaw the signing of sector skills plans in construction and health and social care, with further plans being drawn up for a range of other sectors including energy, food, drink and agriculture and ICT and digital.

Andy said: “We’ve achieved a tremendous amount in the last three years, thanks to the hard work and dedication of my colleagues on the Skills Board and our local authority partners. I leave the Board in good hands, and wish Paul every success as he brings all of his experience to continue driving forward our skills agenda.”

•Adastral-Park based creative agency Banbury Howard has appointed Lindsay Boyd as group account director and Rosie Denny as account manager.

Lindsay will support the firm’s London and global clients, using more than a decade’s creative management experience gained in London based agencies TMW and Unlimited Group, where she developed high value accounts including Danone International, BT, National Express, Sainsbury’s and McLaren Automotive.

“I am excited to take on the challenge of heading up the London and international business,” she said.

“My aim is to become a close strategic partner for both existing and new clients, helping them to deliver their business objectives. Banbury Howard is delivering creative that can hold its own with the big London agencies and at a speed and value that clients really need. The future with this amazing team is an exciting prospect.”

Rosie, who has extensive B2B digital marketing experience for local and national organisations including the Access Group, Dorling Kindersley, Flovate Workflow Technologies, CMR and The University of Essex, will plan, oversee and manage marketing activities for some of Banbury Howard’s East Anglia-based clients.

With a strong copy and editorial background as well as a First in English, she is also looking forward to putting her creative writing to good use as part of the copywriting team.

Managing director Sarah Goodwin said: “We’re delighted to welcome both Lindsay and Rosie to the team. As a company, we’re committed to delivering outstanding services that really make a difference to our clients’ businesses. Having talented people on board is crucial to this.”

•Regional law firm Tees has strengthened its specialist company and commercial team in Essex with the appointment of Richard Payne as a partner. Richard will be based in Tees’ Chelmsford office.

He has more than 25 years’ experience and over that time has built a well-respected profile in the UK and internationally, thanks to his expertise within corporate finance and banking transactions. Richard has most recently advised Xpediator PLC, a leading Essex-based provider of freight management services across the UK and Europe, on its successful IPO and admission to trading on the AIM market.

Richard’s clients include publicly-quoted and private companies, entrepreneurs, business owners and family-owned businesses, as well as private equity investors and management teams, banks and financial institutions.

Richard said: “I am excited to be joining the team at Tees as it’s a firm with a wealth of expertise and an excellent range of clients across many different sectors. The company and commercial team is a key strength of the firm, and I look forward to supporting and building upon a growing client base.”

Tees’ chairman and senior partner David Redfern said: “Richard’s expertise within corporate finance and banking are a perfect fit for our growing Chelmsford team. Our corporate clients will benefit from his high level of experience, local knowledge and industry expertise. We’re delighted to welcome Richard to the firm – and the Tees family.”

Prior to joining Tees, Richard spent a number of years in London at a top international law firm, followed by many years as a partner at a leading regional law firm in Essex.

Tees has offices in Chelmsford, Royston, Saffron Walden, Bishop’s Stortford and Cambridge.