Yorkshire lawyer celebrates four decades at Atherton Godfrey
Partner and head of litigation at Yorkshire legal practice Atherton Godfrey LLP is celebrating 40 years at the firm.
This month, John McQuater, one of the region’s best-regarded litigation lawyers, marks 40 years since he started his career at Atherton Godfrey, where he is now responsible for the personal injury, clinical negligence and dispute resolution teams. Sheffield-born, John joined the Doncaster-based practice in January 1982. Having qualified in 1983, John became a partner at Atherton Godfrey just two years later.
John prides himself on offering access to justice for people who have been injured. He cites having helped build the business over the years leading to its acquisition by the Switalskis Group in 2021 amongst his career highlights. He is also proud to have been president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and to have received accredited status as a senior fellow of APIL: the only lawyer in Yorkshire to hold this accolade and one of only eleven people nationally.
A personal injury lawyer for 35 of his 40 years at Atherton Godfrey, John is passionate about the legal industry’s role in levelling up. John says: “It’s important that the legal system remains accessible, treating everyone fairly whatever their background and wherever they are from. People who have suffered injury must be able to access an open and fair justice system which recognises the difficulties faced by an individual tackling well-resourced financial institution.
“I am proud to help people in Doncaster, across Yorkshire and beyond, secure compensation to help get their lives back on track following serious injury or bereavement. I hope this, in turn, encourages people to take better care of others.”
Atherton Godfrey became part of the Switalskis group in January 2021 in a move that put the combined business into the top 150 law firms in the country and created one of the largest law firms in Yorkshire with offices solely in the region. John says: “A year on we are still enormously excited about this positive step for our business. We are a like-minded team of quality lawyers and we are determined to provide the best services, with satisfactory conclusions, for all our clients. There have been many changes in the industry over the years but being part of a forward looking and flexible business that has accommodated these changes has meant we have continued to move forward and thrive.”
Looking to the future, John says: “I still learn something every day and strive to become a better lawyer and mentor. I hope to do so for many years to come. The last 40 years have flown by. It’s been an incredible journey so far and I feel fortunate to work with excellent colleagues and to have the privilege of helping clients when they most need support.”
Congratulating John on his 40 year milestone, Switalskis group MD John Durkan says: “John is a tremendous credit to Atherton Godfrey and the Switalskis Group and also to the entire legal profession. His work has changed the lives of many people by giving access to outstanding legal counsel. He has also helped develop the law through cases he has led that have gone to the Court of Appeal. He has an enviable skill set and industry knowledge combined with empathy, integrity and determination to do the right thing for clients. As a growing group we have a strong reputation in claimant services and John’s contribution to the business and his generosity in the support he gives our up-and-coming lawyers is invaluable.”
In addition to his core client work, John provides professional training on subjects including procedure, practice management, clinical negligence and evidence as well as giving regular updates on developments in the law. He is the author of ‘Model Letters for Personal Injury Lawyers’ and the ‘APIL Guide to Personal Injury Claims Procedure’.
Sheffield-based Fulcrum Utility Services Limited announces directorate change
Fulcrum announces that Terry Dugdale, CEO of the Company, has decided to step down from his role as CEO in order to resume an operational role within the business. He will step down from the Board with immediate effect and resume the role of Group COO (“GCOO”).
The Board is pleased to announce that Antony Collins has agreed to join the Group as Interim Chief Executive Officer. Antony brings extensive experience combined with powerful implementation and leadership skills. He has a strong operational background in managerial control and processes which, combined with Terry’s knowledge of the business and operational capabilities, gives the Board confidence that Antony is well placed to lead the Group whilst a permanent successor is sought. Most recently Antony was Interim CEO at Carclo plc.
Terry Dugdale said: “It has been a pleasure leading Fulcrum through the recent challenging times which have seen many changes in the Group. I am looking forward to stepping back into the operational side of the business and delivering value through operational excellence. I became CEO in January 2021 with a mandate to build a foundation for growth. This, I believe, has been achieved; the Group now has an identified strategy for expansion and the funds with which to execute it. It is now time for me to execute on this strategy in an operational capacity and I look forward to working with Antony in this regard.”
Jennifer Babington, Non-Executive Chair of Fulcrum, said: “The Board would like to thank Terry for his contribution to the Group during his time as CEO, most notably leading the Group through the recent fundraise. Terry joined the Company as GCOO in March 2019 and with his operational strength it makes sense for him to focus his time on the operational side of the business and resume the role of GCOO in order to best support the Group’s growth objectives.
I believe that the Group now has a firm platform for growth and the Board is excited by the long-term growth opportunities ahead for the Company and looks forward to updating the market on the Company’s progress.”
Nina Cliff joins Sumo Group as Director of Business Development
Sumo Group has confirmed the appointment of Nina Cliff, who has joined the company as Director of Business Development. Nina will be responsible for partner outreach, ensuring that the Group is ahead of the curve by bringing new products and partnership opportunities to studios across the world. The role will see her proactively working on the business development outreach strategy and growth opportunities across the Sumo studios, as well as uncovering the latest and greatest partner IPs in the industry.
“As Sumo continues to expand its world-class development capabilities, we must strive to maintain an equally impressive level of guidance and support” said Dean Trotman, Commercial Director of Sumo Group. “Further strengthening our focus to ensure Group studios achieve their project goals and ambition, we’re delighted to welcome Nina on board”.
“Sumo is a company that has always been close to my heart and it is fantastic to be joining at such an exciting time,” said Nina. “It’s a real landmark moment for me to become part of the team and to work alongside so many friends.
“I’m looking forward to making an impact and contributing to the ever-growing pipeline of projects throughout 2022 and beyond.”
Nina brings a wealth of experience to the company, having previously worked as Business Development Director for Edinburgh-based publisher Firestoke and Head of Business Development at mobile developer Tag Games.
Lawrence Hannah strengthens property team
North Yorkshire property consultancy Lawrence Hannah has strengthened its property team with the appointment of Andy Rogers as director.
Andy joins the York-based consultancy to lead their building consultancy team, replacing Michael Holford, who is still retained by the practice as a consultant.
Andy joins from Avison Young (formerly GVA) in Leeds, where he was a director and head of their building consultancy team. He previously worked for GVA in the Midlands.
Andy is an experienced project manager, fulfilling the role of lead consultant, project manager and employer’s agent on new-build and refurbishment schemes up to £20m in value.
He has extensive development support experience, having provided bank and independent investor appraisals and monitoring for schemes as diverse as industrial, retail, health centres, leisure and alternative energy developments.
Andy also provides core due diligence for buildings for acquisition and occupational purposes, generally in a lead role, throughout the UK, together with core building surveying and professional services such as dilapidations claims and neighbourly matters.
Andy said: “It is an extremely exciting time to be joining Lawrence Hannah, with a number of high-profile and exciting projects both on-going and in the pipeline in North Yorkshire and beyond.
“It’s also a great challenge and opportunity for myself personally, working with an established and highly respected and experienced Yorkshire property team.”
Miles Lawrence, Managing Director of Lawrence Hannah, said: “Andy’s appointment is excellent news for us. He has built a strong reputation within the Yorkshire property market as a first-class surveyor and project manager and I am confident that the combination of his expertise and his commitment will prove invaluable to us.”
Reinvented Morgans’ party raises over £15,000 for Leeds charities
Over £15,000 has been raised for two Leeds charities, Holbeck Together and Re:establish, following a successful event at Harvey Nichols in Leeds, organised by Jonathan Morgan.
Jonathan founded property firm Morgans in 1997, pioneering city living in Leeds. For over 15 years the company hosted a Christmas party at Harvey Nichols every December, as a thank you to clients and staff.
After the business was sold in 2019, Jonathan and his family decided to reinvent the party to raise funds for two local charities that they have been supporting since the onset of the first lockdown.
Jonathan said: “We really didn’t want to confine what had become something of an institution to history, just because we sold our business. So, we decided to reinvent the Morgans Christmas Party as a fundraiser.”
Holbeck is just 1.4 miles from Harvey Nichols and is one of the most deprived communities in the country. Jonathan added: “Both Holbeck Together and Re:establish work tirelessly, and on a shoe-string, to hold together a community, which is under immense strain. Over the past few years, supporting these small but powerful charities has become a big part of our lives.”
Holbeck Together was established as Holbeck Elderly Aid in 1992, originally as a Neighbourhood Network, providing a wide range of services and support to a diverse and disadvantaged community including the delivery of meals, food parcels, prescriptions, and well-being packs. The charity has a dedicated, skilled team that work hard to ensure that no-one is left behind.
Elissa Newman, CEO at Holbeck Together, said: “We provide a variety of services, activities and opportunities for local people including a successful kid’s club, as well as hosting a full programme of activities for people across all age groups. The time and money Jonathan and his family have dedicated to our small charity has made all the difference, and we would like to thank everyone who bought a ticket and attended the event. The money will go a long way at Holbeck Together.”
Team leader and development manager, Jo Sunderland, at Re:establish, said: “We are a small but dynamic organisation with a focus on young people, their future and their families. We run lots of initiatives and programmes, including what we would all recognise as a youth club, and focus on helping youngsters to develop skills, self-awareness and resilience, as they seek to break the cycle of exclusion, under-achievement and adversity, which is so prevalent in South Leeds.
“We are very grateful to the Morgan family and everyone who came to the event who made this possible, ensuring that collectively we can achieve more! It’s given us a great start to the year, knowing that people believe in you and understanding the positive impact this will have on the lives of our local young people in Beeston and Holbeck.”
Jonathan added: “We are hugely grateful to our clients and friends, 200 of whom paid to attend our event for the first time in 15 years. We are also incredibly thankful to Phil, Sally and the whole team at Harvey Nichols for their generosity in helping to make the event viable, without compromising on quality. Harvey Nichols also donated three fabulous raffle prizes, which raised over £2,000 on the night!
“It is our intention to hold the event each Christmas and to continue to support these two incredible charities, who do so much to make sure that Leeds looks after its own.”
JV reveals masterplan for Leeds city centre site
Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) has entered into a joint venture with Glenbrook to bring forward development of the Whitehall Riverside scheme in Leeds city centre.
A new masterplan is being proposed which will provide a unique, riverside mixed-use scheme in one of the city’s most strategic locations just three minutes’ walk from Leeds train station.
Plans have been submitted to Leeds City Council to be considered at next weeks Plans Panel for a development comprising 215,000 sq ft of grade A office space across two buildings, a 478 space CitiPark multi-story car park and travel hub, and a 108 key aparthotel.
A separate, detailed planning application is proposed by Glenbrook for up to 532 apartments across two buildings of 15 and 18 stories with ground floor commercial units. The proposals include extensive residents’ amenities split across the ground floor and mezzanine with terrace garden overlooking the River Aire.
A new landscaping and public realm proposal will improve connectivity to, and further complement the existing riverside environment with a series of interlinked pedestrian and cycling routes to support health and well-being whilst also attracting new residents and visitors to the scheme.
TCS has owned the site for a number of years and recognised the opportunity to deliver a unique neighbourhood in the West End of Leeds city centre which is now seeing increased activity and development.
Craig Burrow, development director at Town Centre Securities, said: “We are excited to be bringing the new Whitehall Riverside masterplan forward and are confident that the proposed mixed use approach will unlock the full potential of this incredible site. The proposals are the culmination of a collaborative partnership and it’s a pleasure to work towards a shared vision and goals with Glenbrook for the transformation and activation of this significant stretch of riverside frontage.”
Danny Roberts at Glenbrook continued: “We have a strong track record in successfully delivering high quality and highly sustainable homes. Having developed a number of BTR schemes across the UK in recent years, we have been looking to expand our presence into the Yorkshire market. Located close to Leeds’ premier commercial district, this development site was an attractive proposition, only increased by the prospect of working with TCS and we look forward to working with them to deliver the masterplan vision.”
The design and professional team include Enjoy Design, Sheppard Robson, re-form, Curtins and ID Planning.
Skills courses to boost Lincolnshire’s coastal communities
Are you located on the Lincolnshire coast and seeking a brand new career path or looking to upskill your staff in the visitor economy, tourism or hospitality industries?
The Coastal Communities programme is offering fully funded courses for individuals or businesses to help advance and upskill Greater Lincolnshire’s coastal workforce.
The Coastal Communities project, spearheaded by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and delivered by Lincolnshire County Council, aims to enhance the thriving Lincolnshire coastline with a developing visitor economy founded on business growth and career opportunities for local people.
The fully funded courses cover a range of topics, from excellence in customer service, to hospitality and kitchen management, the sunflower lanyard scheme and caravan siting development.
The visitor economy sector is worth over £1.9bn per annum to Greater Lincolnshire’s economy and there is a vast choice of rewarding career opportunities on offer on the Lincolnshire coast.
Nicola Radford, Senior Commissioning Officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “What we have access to here is something that will undoubtedly benefit existing businesses and job seekers alike.
“So far, we have engaged with 370 learners in 75 qualifications through 50 different businesses. From coastal businesses such as Batemans Brewery and Butlins to Magna Vitae leisure hubs and Stagecoach transport, this funding is here to help you.
“We strongly encourage those wanting to advance their knowledge in visitor economy industries to take advantage of these courses as they provide integral transferrable skills and will allow businesses to benefit from free funding to support their recovery and growth.”
Clare Hughes, Employment and Skills Executive Manager at the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “Coastal employers previously told us that they could not access information about the training available in their area, so we have secured funding for the training courses and the skills portal to help employers see everything in one place.”
Leeds’ year-long cultural celebration secures £1m
With a year to go to the start of LEEDS 2023, Leeds Culture Trust has secured the backing of major investment partners to support the development and delivery of the planned year-long cultural celebration.
Public sector organisations and private sector businesses’ combined investment of £1million is a major boost to LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture, which aims to be a key contributor to the city region’s pandemic recovery, creating a positive and lasting legacy.
£500,000 funding from Paul Hamlyn Foundation will support a major project that will take place in the lead up to and during LEEDS 2023, featuring artists working in the heart of communities across all 33 wards of the city.
Moira Sinclair, Chief Executive, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, said: “LEEDS 2023 aims to unlock the creative potential of local people in all communities, empowering them to develop work that celebrates the culture and voices of the city. At the heart of this project is a commitment to building skills and demonstrating the value of inclusive practice in supporting local communities and we look forward to seeing the programme take shape in an exciting year ahead.”Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has awarded more than £288,000 to support a range of activities including a creative learning programme and opportunities for children and young people. £150,000 has been secured from the British Council, which is already working with LEEDS 2023 to support creative partnerships between Leeds artists and international collaborators to make new work for the city’s landmark year of culture.
British Council Director England, Ellen Berry, said: “LEEDS 2023 is an exciting opportunity for the city to explore its heritage, expand its global connections with new relationships, and create together through the themes of language and diaspora. This is exactly what our international cultural network is about, for artists to exchange ideas and explore cultures across geographical boundaries.” In a major show of confidence from the business sector, KPMG – which employs 1,100 people in the city – has confirmed a significant financial commitment alongside pro-bono support including volunteering time, use of staff and resources. Representing the built environment sector, developer HBD and global engineering, management and development consultancy Mott MacDonald also join as LEEDS 2023 Club Members. Kully Thiarai, CEO and creative director for LEEDS 2023, said: “LEEDS 2023 will be a huge team effort, involving many partners of all kinds to be a truly transformational milestone that is accessible for everyone. These partnerships and the investment that comes with them are a significant show of confidence in the vital role culture plays in creating a successful, inclusive city. “We are thankful to our funders and corporate partners whose backing is instrumental in bringing to life our ambitions for LEEDS 2023 and we look forward to making further announcements later this month as we mark our ‘one year to go ‘milestone.”Wilton secures planning consent for regionally significant major employment site
Doncaster MBC has granted Leeds based Wilton Developments Outline Planning consent for up to 3.52 Million sq ft of Logistics and Industrial space on 180 acres adjacent to Junction 6 of the M18 at Thorne, Doncaster.
Elsewhere in South Yorkshire Wilton Developments has recently completed its c. 300,000 sq ft Enterprise 36 scheme at Tankersley (J36 of the M1), delivering four warehouse and industrial units to occupiers including Williams Rowland, Dura and USL Group. Two of the buildings were acquired by CBRE Investment Management for one of its discretionary funds. Wilton is active across the north of England specialising in office and industrial development and investment.
Jason Stowe, Managing Director of Wilton Developments, comments: “We are looking forward to bringing forward this key employment site within the Northern Powerhouse. We are programmed to be on-site later this year with delivery of the first buildings in 2023. Further detail and updates on our plans will be available shortly”.
University of Sheffield spin-out secures seed investment to revolutionise trust in global telecommunications and computing with quantum photonics
University of Sheffield spin-out, Aegiq, has secured a seven-figure seed investment to develop next generation networking with quantum security.
The investment from the syndicate led by High-Tech Gründerfonds, Deepbridge Capital and business angel investors, together with existing funding from Innovate UK brings Aegiq’s total funding to over £3.5m.
Aegiq is a spin-out of the University of Sheffield’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, founded by a team consisting of CEO Dr. Max Sich, CTO Dr. Scott Dufferwiel, and CFO Andrii Iamshanov. It recently won the Institute of Physics Business Start-Up Award for the development of its breakthrough quantum photonics platform using proprietary deterministic single-photon sources.
Their platform technology enables a range of new R&D applications in quantum science, sensing, and imaging. The technology will develop a new generation of networking with quantum security, including quantum key distribution (QKD), as well as large-scale quantum computing applications.
The company has been awarded funding for several projects supported by the Quantum Technologies Challenge at Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The funding includes QT Assemble – Integrated Quantum Technology Programme, and Innovate UK’s multi-million grant to develop secure quantum communications for fibre-optic and satellite based applications.
Dr. Max Sich, CEO of Aegiq, said: “Building reliable and scalable networking for the quantum era is the linchpin that is needed to truly bring to life the impact of quantum technologies, including quantum computing and also sensing. At Aegiq we are developing just this, and we are delighted to have High-Tech Gründerfonds and the syndicate support our vision.
“Our patented single-photon technology and novel integrated optics approach will allow us to offer next-generation quantum communications, unlocking new opportunities for our customers. The investment led by High-Tech Gründerfonds, alongside the other grants we’ve secured, will support our R&D and continue to elevate our offering.”
Dr. Gernot Berger, investment manager at High-Tech Gründerfonds, said: “The single photon source developed by Aegiq represents a platform technology with unparalleled specifications that enables various applications. As a photonics guy, I am more than thrilled to invest here and support the highly skilled team on their journey.”
