Ipswich-based energy firm Flow has bolstered its senior management team with the appointment of Tony Cuffling to the newly-created role of operations director of the company’s smart boiler business.

Tony has extensive management experience and joins from Big Six energy provider Npower, where he carried out a number of positions including head of supply chain and contract development. Prior to that, he spent 20 years as an army engineering manager.

His new role involves all operational elements of the Flow Products business including supply chain and logistics, field support services and business improvement projects designed to further enhance customer service.

Flow Products managing director Alan Stevenson said: “Tony’s experience and expertise will be hugely significant to achieving our growth potential as we continue to maintain and build on our position in delivering market-leading products and outstanding customer service.”

Tony said he was looking forward to his new role.

•Nigel Watson is the newly appointed group director of information services at Northumbrian Water Group Ltd. He started his career on a government Youth Opportunities Programme at the Eastern Electricity Board in Ipswich and has held senior positions in business analysis, programme management and his specialist field of transformation, mergers and acquisitions. He has worked in 24 countries, and his previous employers include GE Capital, Microsoft, Vodafone and Travelport.

He joined Northumbrian Water Group, based at Durham, in 2015 to help the company prepare for the opening of the retail competition for business customers. His latest appointment sees him lead the development and use of new technologies.

“With cloud computing, artificial intelligence and the seemingly relentless march of technological advances we have to continuously find ways to make it easier for our customers to interact with us,” he said.

“Advancing technologies will also help us to run our network more efficiently and we are already looking at “smart” equipment, drones, 360 degree cameras, image recognition, gas signature detecting lasers...the list is endless.

“What excites me most is the commitment and passion shared by everyone here at NWG and a culture that wants to challenge, explore and experiment with new ways of doing things better, all with the shared aim of providing excellent service.

“We will achieve this by combining the experience of generations with new, emerging talent in the young people who are joining us in our new apprentice schemes.”

Nigel is lives in Durham with his family.

•An Ipswich PR agency is celebrating the addition of two new members of staff to its team of five.

Laura Hill, 23, has joined Prominent PR in Ipswich in the role of graphic designer and Kara Thurkettle, 21, as marketing executive.

The pair will be supporting the agency with its range of local, national and international clients.

Laura is an award-winning creative and expert on brand identity and web design.

She said: “I’m delighted to be part of a fresh, growing and exciting company and use my skills to develop diverse, creative concepts.”

Kara has joined the team from America where she studied public relations and psychology at Western Michigan University.

She said: “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a very successful British firm that can offer me a lot of opportunities to learn and grow in the PR industry.”

Managing director Helen Rudd said: “We are over the moon to welcome two more confident, talented individuals to the team and look forward to working on some very exciting projects, campaigns and client work over 2017.”

•Two dedicated and long-serving members of law firm Birkett Long’s Chelmsford office have been promoted to executives.

Katie Ball, who works in the commercial litigation team, and Debbie Butterfield, from the family team, have both become an executive secretary.

Katie, who joined Birkett Long, which also has offices in Colchester and Basildon, after 11 years working in the London office of law firm WGM, said: “I joined Birkett Long nine years ago, and being promoted to executive feels very rewarding.

“I really enjoy my work helping clients, dealing with notary enquiries and putting together documents, and I work with a great team of people.”

Katie also trained and practised as a reflexologist for many years, and was a member of ART (Advanced Reflexology Training); MIIR (Member of International Institute of Reflexology) and MAR (Member of Association of Reflexologists).

Debbie Butterfield, from Chelmsford, who has also worked for Birkett Long for nine years, said: “My work with the family team is really varied and every day is different. I enjoy having a lot of contact with clients, and working with a great team in Chelmsford. Being promoted is reward for the work I do as part of that team.”

Debbie studied for the Private Secretary’s Certificate at Southend College and has also worked for a law firm in London.

•The Liberal Democrats have announced their team of regional spokespeople for Brexit.

Belinda Brooks-Gordon, former Cambridgershire County Councillor and academic, has been appointed as its regional spokesperson for the East of England.

She will be tasked with fighting to reduce the damage of Brexit for people across the East of England following prime minister Theresa May’s announcement that she intends to take Britain out of the single market.

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat shadow secretary of state for exiting the European Union, said: “Belinda Brooks-Gordon is going to do an excellent job of holding the government to account as the Conservatives drag us out of Europe and the Single Market.”

Belinda said: “Theresa May’s decision to take us out of the Single Market will have a devastating effect on the economy of the East of England and I will fight tooth and nail for local people to ensure that jobs and prosperity are protected.”

•Independent day and boarding school Stoke College, based at Stoke-by-Clare, near Haverhill, has appointed Richard Stuart as head of sixth form.

The new sixth form offers a variety of A levels and BTECs, including computer science and further maths, which will also be taught by him.

Richard is lead teacher for mathematics at Ormiston Sudbury Academy, and his experience in leading developments in learning and mentoring sixth form students in their Extended Project Qualifications were all significant factors in his appointment.

Head Frank Thompson said: “Mr Stuart came through a highly competitive selection process to be appointed. His academic credentials, including a Cambridge degree in computer science, mean that he is equipped to stretch even the most able students. His teaching experience has prepared him well for this role and I am confident he will lead our outstanding team of sixth form teachers with great effect.”

Richard said, “I am incredibly excited to take on this new role and cannot wait to begin working with our first cohort of sixth form students.”