Dr Nigel Davies, manufacturing and sustainability director at Stowmarket-based malt and malted ingredients firm Muntons, has been placed as one of the top 100 exceptional individuals in The Manufacturer magazine’s recently-published list.

The Manufacturer Top 100 recognises exceptional individuals within the UK manufacturing sector and Nigel was singled out as one of the inspiring leaders, a category covering people who create wealth and stable employment within a UK-based manufacturing firm. He was also recognised in the “Driver of cultural change” category.

This is only the second year that The Manufacturer has compiled the top 100 list, which is designed to improve the visibility of positive manufacturing role models, providing a series of inspirational stories from a varied cross section of the manufacturing community.

Nigel said: “I met some of the other winners and was really pleased to be in company of genuine inspirational leaders, a credible group of people who have made real, positive, changes in manufacturing.

“Often the focus of manufacturing awards tends to be on engineering but these awards recognise the importance of the supply chain generally and include a good number of food and drink producers.”

Nigel has been instrumental in driving “practical sustainability” within Muntons, spearheading the company’s carbon foot-printing initiative and focusing on energy management. His aim has been to demystify the debate on sustainability and show how it is a key part of board strategy.

: : Two members of law firm Birketts’ family business team have passed the STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising, each with a distinction.

Adam Jones (partner, corporate) and Catriona Galloway (senior associate, private client) both have extensive knowledge of the complexities of family-owned businesses and were keen to have their expertise recognised. Consequently, the pair attended two, full-day workshops led by industry experts and completed a range of distance learning tasks including a 3,500- word written assignment.

The course included best practices essential to working with a family business, from the first meeting with the client to setting agendas and planning in the long term.

Birketts, based in Ipswich, advises family-owned businesses on issues such as succession planning, sales and acquisitions, governance issues, employment, resolving disputes, setting up trusts and other personal wealth protection issues.

James Austin, head of Birketts’ family business team, said: “I would like to congratulate Adam and Catriona on passing the STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising with distinction. Our family business team comprises lawyers from a wide range of disciplines, with a knowledge and understanding of the particular challenges facing this unique sector. We have strong relationships with other professional advisers and organisations working alongside family businesses, meaning we can provide valuable and informed solutions.”

: : Law firm Greene & Greene has strengthened its commercial team with solicitor Andrew Cooper becoming a partner. Having joined the firm in May 2012, his new role in the partnership started in December.

Andrew qualified as a solicitor in 2011 after studying in Cambridge and Oxford, and worked for a law firm in Norwich before joining Bury St Edmunds-based Greene & Greene. He advises a range of local and national businesses, recently advising one of London’s largest insurance underwriters on a multi-million pound acquisition of a specialist managing general agent, and the shareholders of a Cambridgeshire-based company on a large crowd-funding project.

“I was delighted to be offered this role and I am very much looking forward to the new challenge,” he said.

“The experience we offer here means we have a wide variety of clients ranging from small businesses in Bury St Edmunds to large and well known national and international companies, and we pride ourselves on giving the same high quality service to all.”

Senior partner Chris Thomson said: “When Andrew joined us three-and-a-half years ago, we quickly realised that he would be a valuable member of the team. Greene & Greene has a long standing reputation for delivering the service our clients expect and deserve and Andrew’s new role will only strengthen that.”

Alongside his work with Greene & Greene, Andrew is a committee member and founder of the Bury St Edmunds Young Professionals, a networking group for business people in the town.

: : The trustees of Lapwing Suffolk Ltd have appointed Sophy Jones as its new chief executive.

Lapwing founder Sue Chesworth is stepping down as chief executive but will continue to act as education consultant for the organisation, which is based at Martlesham, near Ipswich, and provides specialist educational support for at-risk young people in the county.

Sophy has been a trustee and director of Lapwing since its inception in 2010 and has been creating innovative opportunities for marginalised young people alongside Sue since 2006.

A new senior management team has also been appointed to support Sophy. Jeremy Hennell James becomes managing director with operational, financial and commercial responsibility. Jo Shevlin continues as head of HR and Wendy Quantrill remains communications and fundraising manager, with both taking on additional responsibilities for business development.

Chair of trustees Lynne Dobney said: “Lapwing’s mission is to create and deliver personalised, sustainable, community-based education for marginalised young people.

“This new management team will seek out and develop new funding opportunities to enable Lapwing to continue supporting the many students who find their education failing them through ill-health, disability and circumstance. With her experience and passion Sophy is ideally placed to carry this vision forward.”

: : Ipswich-based PR firm Genesis PR has appointed Jacqueline French as account director. With more than 15 years’ experience, Jacqueline has worked across both corporate and consumer sectors and has coordinated PR campaigns at regional, national and international levels.

In her previous role as head of communications at London & Partners (formerly Visit London), Jacqueline managed consumer campaigns to international markets, worked with the tourism industry in the run up to the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games and managed corporate PR and crisis communications. With both in-house and agency experience, Jacqueline has worked on a range of high profile brands including British Airways, Zoological Society of London and Visa.

“I am delighted to join Genesis PR and I hope to add my wealth of experience to the strong team here. I have worked on a broad range of sectors and industries which I think will benefit both existing and new clients,” said Jacqueline.

Director Penny Arbuthnot said: “After a successful year for Genesis PR, we are delighted to welcome Jacqueline to the team to support our business growth and continue to deliver successful PR campaigns to our clients.”

: : Years of hard work have paid off for marketing professional Jennie Skingsley of Essex Law firm Birkett Long who has received her Professional Diploma in Marketing at a graduation ceremony in Westminster, London.

Jennie, associate and marketing manager at the firm, which has offices in Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester, started the level 6 Chartered Institute of Marketing’s qualification, which is the equivalent of a degree, in 2010 but had to shelve it due to work commitments.

She picked up her studies again in 2014 and embarked on them again while holding down her day job. Jennie picked up her diploma at London’s Church House Conference Centre and celebrated with family and friends afterwards.

“This qualification is fiendishly difficult, so I can’t help feeling pleased,” she said. “I considered giving up at one stage but I’m glad I pushed through.”