Yorkshire property firm Dacre, Son & Hartley has made promotions across its residential, agricultural and customer service divisions, as well as a director level promotion in its specialist commercial division, Dacres Commercial.

Laura Nicholas and Zoe Harrison have both been promoted to associate, Anita Rydings is now a senior sales negotiator, Will Shakeshaft-Gee has become a sales negotiator and Ed Pawley has been made a director of Dacres Commercial.

Ed joined Dacres Commercial in 2021 as a senior associate. He now carries out valuations, rent reviews and lease renewals, as well as advising on investment transactions, spanning all types of healthcare property including GP surgeries, medical centres and pharmacies. He covers an extensive area spanning Yorkshire and into the North West, Midlands and down the M1 corridor.

Laura joined Dacres in 2015 as a customer services representative and is also a qualified mortgage advisor, which further enhances her understanding of the property market. In 2022 she was promoted to head of Dacres’ customer services centre, leading the team and working with clients at all stages of their property journey. She also provides internal training across the firm’s 20 residential offices, located throughout North and West Yorkshire, on best practice requirements and software systems.

Chartered surveyor Zoe has worked as a land agent in Dacres’ agricultural division since 2019. Zoe, who is a RICS member and registered valuer, handles the sale, valuation and management of agricultural and sporting property throughout the North of England. Based in the firm’s Harrogate office, Zoe works across a wide portfolio of clients from single farms to some of the finest country estates in the region.

Anita joined Dacres’ Knaresborough office in 2018 and has a proven track record in sales and strong focus on high standards of customer service. She is a Fellow of the National Association of Estate Agents and has almost 20 years’ experience working in the property sector, after starting her career in commercial property in Leeds, before becoming property manager at The Harewood Estate and then moving into residential sales.

William Shakeshaft-Gee joined Dacres’ Burley-in-Wharfedale office in 2022 as a sales assistant and after developing in the role for the last 18 months he’s enjoyed numerous sales successes throughout Burley and the surrounding area, as well as being a hit with clients.

Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacres, said: “Ed, Anita, Laura, Zoe and William are all integral members of our team, with their own specialisms, who work across different divisions and areas within the business. They’re all very hardworking and go above and beyond to deliver the best results for our clients, and therefore they thoroughly deserve their promotions.”

David Ogilvie, who heads up Dacres Commercial, added: “Ed’s promotion is recognition of his strong performance since joining Dacres Commercial and the key role he has played in helping to drive forward the expansion of our highly regarded healthcare department.”

Leeds-based G&H Group has strengthened its team with the promotions of Marc Ambler to G&H Group director, Wayne Sharp to G&H Projects division manager, and the appointment of Jayson Barton to G&H Group health and safety manager.

With a career spanning 21 years, most recently as operations manager overseeing G&H Group’s Project division, Marc will draw on his vast experience and extensive industry knowledge to lead the mechanical, electrical and public health service (MEP) provider’s business development strategy across the UK.

Marc will focus on emerging markets including energy/decarbonisation and long term framework agreements in health, education and government schemes.

Wayne Sharp, who has 25 years industry experience, has been promoted to G&H Projects division manager and will be responsible for day-to-day operations and maintaining a high standard of delivery. He will be supported by Marc who will maintain overall responsibility.

Jayson has joined the business as group health and safety manager. In the newly created role, Jayson will implement and monitor health and safety policies across the group’s five divisions – Building Services, Projects, Maintenance, Engineering Services and Air Conditioning – on site and in G&H Group’s offices.

He will establish health and safety standards and goals, ensure safe working procedures are implemented, undertake regular site safety inspections, and collaborate with The Safety Consultants Company.

G&H Group’s chairman Graham Kelly said: “Since joining G&H Group five years ago, Marc has significantly grown the Projects division and proven that he has the skills and attributes to deliver the group’s new business strategy.

“He is succeeded by Wayne, who having worked closely with Marc has developed a great understanding of G&H Projects division and will maintain its outstanding track record.

“In addition, the health and safety of our staff is our number one priority, with many working in high risk environments. Jayson’s appointment is imperative to building on our partnership with The Safety Consultants Company.

“I’d like to congratulate Marc and Wayne on their well deserved promotions and welcome Jayson to the business. All three will play a key role in G&H Group’s continued success.”

Having built a 21-strong dedicated banking and finance practice over the last seven years, Clarion is continuing to grow its specialist team with the appointment of Gresa Bakolli as an associate solicitor.

Gresa trained at an international law firm where she worked with a number of UK clearing banks and corporate borrowers on transactions involving debt, development, real estate and acquisition finance.  

Andrew Curtis was also promoted from senior associate to legal director after joining the firm’s banking and finance practice four years earlier as an associate. With 13 years’ banking experience, he has worked with debt and equity providers and corporates on a wide variety of finance deals, including real estate finance, leveraged finance, private equity and general corporate finance. 

Ben Slack, partner in Clarion’s banking and finance team, said: “In 2023, we completed transactions with a combined debt value in excess of £950m, and our workstreams and client base are continuing to grow.

“It is vital that we continue to develop the careers of the lawyers within the team and recruit new talent to keep pace with the growth of our clients and our client base. The arrival of Gresa is a welcome boost to the team and we are delighted to see Andrew’s well deserved progression.

“We believe a key part of our success is our ability to advise on the full spectrum of financial services and the size and skillsets within the team. As a result, we are rising above the current economic challenges and going from strength to strength.

“We are proud that a team of just four lawyers at its inception in 2016 has gone on to become one of the largest dedicated banking and finance teams in the North. During that time, not only has the size and complexity of the transactions we have worked on increased, but our geographic and international reach has also expanded.”

Having already spent nine years with Bramall Group, Jonathan joins the Board alongside founder and Chairman Tony Bramall, MD Miles Chilton, and Company Secretary Alison Lockwood.

Jonathan has more than 35 years of industry experience, having previously worked with the estates team at British Rail Property Board before joining Sanderson Weatherall, where he spent 27 years.

As a Board Director at Bramall Properties, Jonathan will take a more strategic role in managing the property portfolio.   He will specifically lead the company’s real estate management and asset management programme across sectors including industrial, retail, leisure, office and automotive.

Tony Bramall, said: “Over the last nine years Jonathan has made a considerable contribution to become a valued team member and a real asset to the business.

“He will be instrumental in helping us to realise maximum value for our portfolio of property assets and future acquisitions programme.  Indeed, we are seeking opportunities to invest in new properties and development projects including private and public securities through our Guernsey Investments finance third party property development fund.”

Bramall Group owns a £300 million portfolio of commercial real estate, arable land, forestry, property developments and financial securities. The group is family-owned and is led by Tony Bramall. Over the last six decades Mr Bramall has built and exited two successful public companies while overseeing the growth of the Group and funding a charitable trust which has supported a variety of good causes for the last 30 years.

The Bramall Group managed estate portfolio includes the 568,297 sq ft Hedon Road industrial estate in Hull, the 90,000 sq ft St James Retail Park in Knaresborough and 5/7 Lands Lane in Leeds.  Tenants for other investments include M&S in Harrogate, Mercedes Benz in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield, Premier Inn Hotel in Halifax and Hull, and Bettys and Taylors Group in Knaresborough.