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Tuesday, July 21, 2015
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TEAM PHOTO: Barrass White Legal. Front, centre, are business partners Sonia Barrass and Catherine White, with rear, from left, consultant Deborah Linford, administration assistant Sarah Makey, office manager Catherine Espin and secretary Allison Parker. Picture: Abby Ruston.
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WO solicitors who launched their own law firm last year, have been on the recruitment trail, with a five-strong team now in place.
Linford, working as a consultant and specialising in family law and immigration, adding to their residential and commercial conveyancing, wills, probate and powers of attorney work. Office manager Catherine Espin Barrass White Legal, based in and apprentice administration Grimsby, is the culmination of assistant Sarah Makey have also Sonia Barrass and Catherine joined, with secretary Allison White’s desire to do it on their own Parker completing the team, one terms, having built up two decades year on from the Solicitors of experience working for law Regulatory Authority go-ahead. fir ms. “The work came in and we had to They have now welcomed a develop the team,” Mrs White said. further solicitor in Deborah “We have taken on staff as we have
needed to. “The next step for us will be our own premises, and we’d like another consultant, ideally in general litigation to round off everything we offer. It would have to be the right person, at the right time though.” Mrs Barrass believes the approachable and flexible nature of the business, based at E-Factor’s Enterprise Village on Prince Albert Gardens, has helped them grow. “We have put the time and effort in, and I think the personal touch
with the clients works well. We can always be reached, people don’t wait days on end to speak to us.” They are also happy to do home visits, particularly for elderly clients. The team is also actively fundraising for St Andrew’s Hospice, with a sleepwalk team and other work, with Mrs Barrass, having lost her husband Robert to a brain tumour, having been a grateful recipient of their care. The firm is also sponsoring Grimsby Borough Colts’ under eights football team .
Emma returns to region Fish finance role filled CR Parrott Consultants Ltd has welcomed Emma Rowson, pictured, to the team in the new role of business support manager. It comes as the business continues to grow, from offices in Scunthorpe and Grimsby. Chris Parrott, managing director, said: “We have a number of staff with different skill levels and Emma’s appointment fits into the company’s strategic development at this time.0 “Emma’s role covers all aspects of business support with both internal and external interaction. She has already assisted in the development and execution of both the
recent rebranding of the company and the new website and is currently upgrading our marketing and the recruitment elements of the business.” Originally from North Lincolnshire, she moved to London after graduating from the University of Lincoln with a degree in English and History.
During her time away she built up a wealth of experience in both marketing and human resources, most recently working for a global financial services provider. Following a five year absence she has recently returned to North Lincolnshire with her young family. “I am delighted to have returned home to North Lincolnshire and I am thrilled to have joined the team at CR Parrott Consultants,” she said. “Chris and the team are passionate about both the future of the company, the area and the work they do, and it was this passion that attracted me to the role. I am very excited to be on board.”
ICELANDIC Seachill has appointed Andrew Rutherford, pictured, as finance director. He joins the Grimsby seafood giant from investment business Boparan Private Office. Mr Rutherford has spent his whole career working in the food industry, including a number of roles at Young’s Seafood and the Findus Group, before the Boparan role. Ranjit Boparan is also owner of the Two Sisters Food Group, owner of Five Star Fish in Grimsby. This new appointment comes as current finance director, Richard Bales, announces his plans for retirement, although he will remain in the business until April next year. Simon Smith, managing director of Icelandic Seachill, said: “After an extensive search I am delighted to announce Andy’s appointment. He brings with him an invaluable wealth of experience and a real
passion for the seafood industry which will complement the strong team I already have in place for the next stage of our evolution.”
Eyes on the career prize A YOUNG Grimsby-area woman is celebrating being one of the first graduates from an in-demand apprenticeship programme with national optical retailer Vision Express. Megan Dowie, pictured, 18, from New Waltham, was not only part of a first cohort, but was named most dedicated apprentice at the recent graduation ceremony, held at the firm’s Nottingham headquarters. The 13-month employee-embedded scheme accepted its first recruits in February 2014, with Vision Express receiving more than 3,000 applications. She said: “The most valuable part of the apprenticeship has been working as part of a great, supportive team. We all help each other, and I’ve learned to be curious and not be scared to ask questions. Before the apprenticeship I was at college and didn’t enjoy it at all. I hadn’t considered a career in optics, but it sounded interesting and I’m so glad I was accepted onto the scheme. I’m building my skills and knowledge every single day.” With 40 applicants per place, she has excelled, and now taken up a full time, permanent post as an optical assistant at the Grimsby Vision Express, qualifying with a Level Two, Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health (Optical Retail), which is equivalent to five GCSEs. Vision Express chief executive Jonathan Lawson said: “Vision Express is fundamentally a people business. Our employees are passionate about what we do, so it’s fantastic to bring in young talent, like Megan, who are keen to share our journey. Retail is an honest vocation, tough at times, but it rewards those who work hard. Our first graduate apprentices are testament to that. They have set the bar high because they’ve demonstrated enthusiasm and a great attitude – that’s all we ask of them – our in-house training provides the rest. We’re so proud of our apprentice graduates and wish them well in their future careers with Vision Express.”