IN THE MEDIA DECEMBER 2021
FIRM WIDE
1
FIRM WIDE
Ryan and Bridie qualify
Bridie Johnson-Power and Ryan Cotton have become the latest newly qualified solicitors to join LCF Law, having completed their legal training with the Yorkshire law firm.
He graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a law degree in 2016 and then embarked on a legal practice course and master’s degree at The University of Law.
Johnson-Power is now based in the firm’s Leeds office within the Disputes department, working on an extensive range of commercial litigation and insolvency matters spanning shareholder and contractual disputes, as well as breach of warranties and indemnity disputes, highvalue money claims and interim injunctions.
In 2019 he joined LCF Law’s real estate department as a legal assistant before becoming a trainee solicitor.
She completed a law degree as well as the legal practice course and an integrated Master of Law degree at Northumbria University in 2016 and worked as a paralegal at another Leeds law firm before joining LCF Law as a trainee solicitor in 2019. Cotton is working in LCF Law’s Real Estate team, in the firm’s Bradford office, managing both commercial and residential freehold sales and purchases, as well as drafting and negotiating leases and dealing with the sale of businesses where property is the main asset.
Simon Stell, managing partner at LCF Law, said: “We have a fantastic track record of supporting the future talent of the legal industry, whether that’s through the traditional university degree route, or our apprenticeship programme, which gives school leavers the opportunity to train in-house and receive a nationally recognised legal qualification. “Both Bridie and Ryan have done extremely well throughout their training and have already built up plenty of experience assisting with direct contact client work over their time with us.
1
FIRM WIDE
“We’re pleased they have decided to continue their careers with LCF Law and there’s no doubt they both have promising careers ahead of them and can play integral roles within our well-established real estate and disputes departments.” LCF Law employs more than 125 people across its four Yorkshire offices in Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and Ilkley.
ALSO APPEARED IN • Yorkshire Legal • Bradford Zone • The Yorkshire Times • Yorkshire Business Daily • Bdaily READ ARTICLE ONLINE
2
FIRM WIDE
Bradford Manufacturing Weeks has reached over 15,000 students
New figures from Bradford Manufacturing Weeks 2021 show that in four years, the initiative has cumulatively brought more than 15,000 manufacturing experiences to the district’s students. A report analysing the success of the October 2021 West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce-led careers initiative, shows 100% of participating schools felt their pupils benefited from being involved. The UK’s manufacturing sector faced a sharp decline in the 1970s, but the country still ranks ninth in the world for manufacturing output as regards GDP. However, the industry has been in a steep decline for years and initiatives like this could be essential in convincing younger generations to take up a trade. Compiled by Bradford-based school and career specialists The Opportunity Centre, which co-ordinated the fortnight of school and manufacturer activities, the report shows that in just 10 days, almost 3,000 local young people aged 14 to 18 had some form of manufacturing experience as Bradford manufacturers brought the sector to life through in-person tours, online ‘meet the manufacturer’ and ‘meet the apprentice’ sessions and Barclays Life Skills workshops.
Since launching in 2018, Bradford Manufacturing Weeks, and its sponsors, Barclays, E3 Recruitment, Naylor Wintersgill, LCF Law and Bradford Council, have delivered a series of impactful experiences including a Women in Manufacturing panel event at Bradford Girls’ Grammar School and Driver Awareness events with West Yorkshire emergency services. “It was fascinating listening to the women on the manufacturing panel at school – they were so honest about their experiences and gave us great guidance and advice”, said Bradford Girls’ Grammar School year 10 student Sanah Nisa, who heard from female manufacturing leaders alongside 100 of her peers. “It was a surprise to hear about the different opportunities there are in manufacturing – it certainly isn’t like I imagined and has made me want to find out more about the career options there are”. Further 2021 success stories include student Holly Emmott from South Craven School who met former pupil and now apprentice design engineer Kyle Elliot, during a site visit to Skipton manufacturer Guyson International.
2
FIRM WIDE
Kyle joined Guyson after listening to a presentation from the company’s managing director Mark Viner during Bradford Manufacturing Weeks in 2018 and went on to take part in Guyson-hosted mock interviews in 2019, joining the team officially as an apprentice later that year. Viner said: “Kyle is a brilliant example of just what a difference Bradford Manufacturing Weeks is making to young lives. The initiative introduced him to Guyson and now, three years on, he is an apprentice with us and now represents the company when speaking with school pupils who visit us during Bradford Manufacturing Weeks. “The more young people understand our sector and the careers on offer, the more informed decisions they can make about their own careers and the better our all-important talent pipeline will be”. “Our range of activities in 2021 has meant that once again, we were able to produce another educational, inspirational and invaluable two-week careers event”, said Nick Garthwaite, Chair of the Bradford Manufacturing Weeks and director of Bradford-based chemicals firm Christeyns. “The true legacy is the ongoing relationships between manufacturers and schools, meaning the benefits of Bradford Manufacturing Weeks continue throughout the school year”. Lee Collinson, Head of Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics at Barclays added: “We’re delighted to once again have been the primary sponsor of Bradford Manufacturing weeks for 2021. “Young people and apprentices will be essential to the manufacturing sector as it seeks to come back fighting from the pandemic. It has been fantastic to see such large numbers of businesses and schools involved”.
ALSO APPEARED IN • Craven Herald & Pioneer • Bradford T&A • Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine • Craven Herald • Bradford Zone • Business Up North READ ARTICLE ONLINE
3
FIRM WIDE
Trainee solicitors deliver Christmas cheer to Bradford foodbank
Three members of Yorkshire firm LCF Law have helped families in crisis by supporting the Bradford Central Foodbank. Trainee solicitors Cordelia Stephens, Melanie Parsons and Jemma Hobson from LCF Law volunteered for a day at the foodbank, and also organised a collection of food and sweet treats throughout November. Stephens said: “We collected everything from Christmas puddings and Christmas cake to chocolate, tins of soup, tomatoes, fish, meat and more and our donation was enough to build two Christmas hampers.” “We also spent the day volunteering at Bradford Central Foodbank, unpacking incoming supplies, packing food parcels, and helping in the shop and kitchen. It was a great opportunity for us to find out more about the valuable work that the foodbank does and meet some of the clients who rely on its support. The foodbank is an efficiently run and really welcoming place, where clients can also get a free hot meal, and it makes a genuine difference to lots of local people.”
Bradford Central Foodbank partners with more than 100 agencies across the city, including doctors, health visitors, social workers, and police, as well as the Job Centre, to identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. Foodbank clients then bring their voucher to the centre and can redeem it for three days’ worth of emergency food. Foodbank manager Josie Barlow said: “Cordelia, Melanie and Jemma were a great help. Although we get practical support from the Trussell Trust, which is a nationwide network of foodbanks, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK, we are an independent local registered charity that relies on volunteers and the generosity of those that donate.”
3
FIRM WIDE
“By providing three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in food crisis, we can prevent people from going hungry. People struggle for all sorts of reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill or a benefit stopping. A simple box of food makes a big difference, with foodbanks helping prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems.”
ALSO APPEARED IN • Wharfedale Observer • Harrogate Advertiser Series (twice) • Bradford Zone • Bradford T&A • Gazette & Observer READ ARTICLE ONLINE
PERSONAL LAW
1
PERSONAL LAW