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Cambridge appoints new Chief Risk Officer
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The Cambridge Building Society has appointed Sandhya Kawar as its new Chief Risk Officer and member of the Board. Sandhya joined The Cambridge in January this year to lead the society’s Risk and Compliance department. She was recently confirmed in the position following approval by the financial regulators. “I was thrilled to have the opportunity to come to The Cambridge to lead the Risk and Compliance team,” said Sandhya. “I am constantly impressed by the passion and commitment shown by everyone in the department, and across the Society, for protecting our members, our people and the wider public.” Chief Executive, Peter Burrows, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sandhya to our Board. She brings a unique combination of strong technical capability combined with a mutual ethos and culture. I am confident she will make a real difference to our risk management capability, to the benefit of the Society and all its members.” Since joining The Cambridge Sandhya has further strengthened the risk management capabilities and resources of the Society, including overseeing its recent teaming with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Against Scams Partnership (CAPASP) a local scam prevention initiative aimed at raising awareness and sharing resources about scams and financial crime.
St Peter’s School Annual Careers Fair
At the beginning of July, for the first time since lockdown, St Peter’s School were able to welcome 50+ local businesses, employers and FE/HE providers into school for our annual Careers Fair and what an exciting and educational event it was! Students in Year 11 and 13 were able to meet a range of different people who talked to them about their industry, education/working backgrounds, job roles/career paths, amongst lots of other things. Our students had a chance to interact, ask questions and not only learn but be inspired and enthusiastic about their options Post 16 and Post 18. There was such a buzz around school on and after the event and we would like to again, send the biggest thank you everyone who took part and made it the success it was! Heads up! We are already making preparations for next year and have set a date of Tuesday 4 July 2023 so if you are interested in supporting, please do get in touch with our Careers Advisor, Amber Walker, awalker@stpetershuntingdon. org who will be more than happy to answer any questions and provide further details.
Stone King strengthens two key teams
Zoya Ustado Lucie Green Malik Siddique
Cambridge law firm Stone King has strengthened two key teams with new appointments. The firm’s Private Client Property team has welcomed Solicitor Aisha Choudhury and Zoya Ustado as a Paralegal. Sarah Lane, Head of Business and Private Client Property, said: “I am delighted with the new appointments of Aisha and Zoya and am pleased to welcome them to the firm. They have joined an excellent team at an exceptionally busy time and I am pleased they share Stone King’s ethos of helping and supporting our clients so we can continue to deliver the best possible service.” Aisha has experience in residential property transactions and will focus on residential sales and purchases, re-mortgages, transfers of ownership, re-financing and international clients and will be working closely with Sarah Lane and Philip Askew. In addition, Solicitor Malik Siddique has joined the firm’s Crime team, along with Paralegal Lucie Green. Head of Crime Matthew Graham said: “Malik is an experienced solicitor advocate with strong community values and a real commitment to justice. I am very pleased to welcome both him and Lucie to the team.”
Nurturing Computing Technology Talent
Cambridge Regional College (CRC) is working with Arm® Education, part of technology leader Arm, to raise awareness of career opportunities in the computing technologies sector and to attract and nurture new talent to the industry. Arm Education is the latest strategic partner to join CRC in addressing local skills needs. The partnership includes supporting CRC with curriculum development and providing access to teaching and learning materials. Deputy principal at CRC, Michelle Dowse, said: “The computing technologies sector continues to grow exponentially, with particular intensity in Cambridgeshire. Working with Arm Education will allow us to bring industry expertise directly to the young people studying at CRC, ensuring that they are aware of the opportunities available to them, and trained in the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the industry. Career readiness is a key priority for us at CRC ensuring that our students gain the professional and technical skills needed for their next step as well as the employability skills needed by employers. Our strategic partnerships enable us to identify common goals with employers in the region and work together to secure positive outcomes for young people and employers. We are thrilled to be working with Arm Education.”
NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT AT DOMINO PRINTING
A Cambridge company has announced the creation of a new senior HR role as it further strengthens its engagement with employees globally across a range of areas and embraces the shift to hybrid and flexible working. Domino Printing is appointing Sharon Budworth as Director of Engagement signalling the importance of employee experience, health and wellbeing, recognition, diversity and inclusion and internal communications. Forming a central part of the company’s CSR strategy, Sharon will continue to build on the change and impact she has made over the past three and a half years as Director of Human Resources UK & EMEA. Sharon has played a key role in the creation of new policies and practices which support hybrid working and promote a good work/life balance. A major building project has been carried out at the company’s Bar Hill headquarters, creating new team spaces and hot desks to enable greater collaboration and improve the facilities for all employees. Other initiatives to date have been the launch of a Wellbeing Programme, which offers resources, support and access to courses and webinars, as well as a formal recognition of the importance of mental health with a cohort of trained Mental Health First Aiders. ‘Menopause At Work and Home’ was launched in 2021 to support employees and to educate people managers. Speaking of her appointment, Sharon said: “I am very excited to start my new role which will enable me, and Domino more broadly, to focus on engagement. It signifies the importance we place on employee experience and will allow us to build on some of the great initiatives already developed. People are at the heart of the business and we want to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, be happy and successful.” Chris Webb, Group HR Director, added: “I am delighted that Sharon has accepted the position of Director of Engagement, a new role which highlights our commitment to our team and the importance of making Domino an even more attractive place to work.” Domino Printing recently won Employer of the Year award in the Cambridge Independent Science & Technology Awards 2022.
Do you have some exciting news to shout about that could be featured on this page? Get in touch. Tel: 01223 237424 email: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk
Trinity College, Cambridge and managing agents Bidwells LLP have appointed Jane Hutchins as Director of Operations and Communications for the Cambridge Science Park (the Park). Working in partnership with Trinity and Bidwells, Jane will be responsible for delivering the College’s future vision for the Park. This includes an ambitious new cycle of investment focused on sustainability, amenity enhancement and, the creation of diverse and inclusive employment opportunities for the wider Cambridge community. In addition, Jane will play a key role in supporting existing and new tenants, building upon the success of the Park’s recent expansion which has seen tech leaders MathWorks, Roku and Frontier occupy 360,000 sq ft of new Grade A office space; and the creation of a 40,000 sq ft Bio Innovation Centre which is currently incubating 40 fastgrowing UK life sciences start-ups. Commenting on her appointment, Jane said: “Cambridge is one of the best-known science, technology and innovation ecosystems in the world and the Cambridge Science Park has been at the very heart of the sector for more than 50 years. “The social significance of the innovation and work being carried out across the Park has never been more apparent. It’s an absolute privilege to be joining such an ambitious, supportive community of world-class scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs.”
Wyboston Lakes Resort reports record results with strong outlook for 2023
Wyboston Lakes Resorts has delivered a record six months of Meetings and Events business for the first half of 2022, despite restrictions around events in January and February following the Omicron outbreak. Business on the books at the six-month point is up by 47 per cent on 2019 with a solid base already in place for 2023. Bookings remain relatively short lead but there is a welcome uplift in demand for long-term bookings and a commitment to securing multi-event deals across a diverse range of sectors. The resort’s sales strategy has been focused on specific sectors for many years and the sales team has reported a 75 per cent increase in demand for events when compared with 2019. At the start of pandemic in 2020, Wyboston Lakes Resort’s management team took the decision to continue with planned refurbishments, which saw more than £3m invested into the resort’s Meetings and Events offering. Along with an overhaul on the delegate experience, such as enhanced Food & Beverage products and alternative dining options, the uplift on average booking value has increased substantially since 2019. Christine Gomez, Director of Revenue, commented: “This year, we have seen meeting agendas evolve and, whilst the meeting content itself is the priority, the social aspect is also very important. The fact we had products in place to cater for this has really paid off.” Richard Smith, Sales Director of Wyboston Lakes Resort, added: “The resort’s commitment to the environment, to investing in the team and our physical assets will keep pushing the costs base up. Therefore, to keep offering our guests the high quality, value for money, and best in class service, our prices will need to reflect this. The focus now is to maintain the margin and we do this by being focused on what business is good for the resort. We know those sectors we specialise in, but we are also clear on what business we don’t take, and we have moved away from noncore sales lines, such as weddings.” The resort’s management took the decision not to furlough the Business Development team during the pandemic and the team believes this has been a key benefit in keeping relationships with agents and clients strong, open, and based on trust. Steve Jones, Managing Director of Wyboston Lakes Resort, concluded: “We are delighted with the business performance so far in 2022 and the future looks extremely bright for us. We will continue to invest in our team and are extremely proud to be a Real Living Wage Employer. We will also be investing in further capital projects in the coming months. Our culture is at the heart of what we do and ensuring we have a robust and stable business for our team members and shareholders is fundamental and, despite the economic pressure, we will endeavour to remain strong.”
IMET given new lease of life as Encocam head office flagship building
Award winning Huntingdon manufacturing and engineering company Encocam Ltd announced the freehold purchase of iMET, the former advanced technical training centre located on the Alconbury Weald Enterprise Campus, from Urban and Civic plc. The building, which has remained empty since the training centre closed its doors for the final time in 2021, will be relaunched as the flagship head office for Encocam, one of East Anglia’s leading employers, manufacturers and exporters. The iMET name, which stands for Innovation, Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology, will be retained by Encocam as it represents the four cornerstones of Encocam’s success. The announcement comes just one month after Encocam’s Cellbond business unit was named as a recipient of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2022, in recognition of outstanding export performance. In a boost to the local economy, iMET will become home to the CellbondATD project team – specialist engineers and technicians who design, develop, build and test innovative crash test dummies. iMET’s extensive workshop space will be developed into a state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited test facility with three times the equipment currently available. This will free up valuable space at Encocam’s three existing Huntingdon facilities which will be converted for manufacturing aluminium honeycomb foil, crash test barriers, vacuum tables, motorcycles and bespoke composite panels. Founder and Chairman, Dr Mike Ashmead OBE, is looking forward to the expansion. “This is an exciting time for Encocam. We celebrate 35 years in business next year and the organisation continues to grow and develop. The investment in iMET will allow us to employ more staff to develop new products and services, and increase the output of existing goods.”
King’s Ely Sixth Form students reap benefits of Mentor Match Programme
An initiative which enables Sixth Form students at King’s Ely to join forces with a professional in a field that they are keen to pursue at University is growing from strength to strength. King’s Ely’s ‘Mentor Match Programme’ has been running for several years now. However a recent campaign to involve a larger number of mentors has resulted in more Year 13 students than ever safely drawing on the knowledge and experience of professional graduates through the scheme. Mentors include King’s Ely parents, King’s Ely alumni and friends of the school. There are also professionals who have no ties to the school, but who want to support those preparing to embark on their future career paths. Mentors come from a wide variety of fields, including medicine, law, business and academia, to name just a few. One of King’s Ely’s new mentors is Monika Olanrewaju, who is an Architectural Designer at award-winning RIBA Chartered Practice, NP Architects in Cambridge. Monika heard about Mentor Match through a member of staff at King’s Ely and having passed the necessary safeguarding assessments, she has been supporting Year 13 student, Gabe Boon, for the last 12 months. Gabe has received several conditional offers to study Architecture at University. Monika, who holds a BArch, an MA in Typography and Graphic Design, and who is also a trained interior designer, said: “My first involvement with King’s Ely’s Mentor Match Programme was in 2021. I thought it looked like a great opportunity to help inspire and support the younger generation. Having contributed to successful internships in previous practices, I was keen to explore Mentor Match to expand my outreach and encourage students to pursue architectural education.” Through the programme, mentors support Year 13 students and the King’s Ely Sixth Form and Higher Education Team by exploring career avenues, the choice of universities and degrees, relevant work experience and internship placements. Their help is also available to students after they have left King’s Ely, supporting them with that essential transition into work. If you are interested in supporting the Mentor Match Programme at King’s Ely, please contact Gill Smith, Director of Higher Education and Graduate Careers, by emailing: gillsmith@kingsely.org
Do you have some exciting news to shout about that could be featured on this page? Get in touch. Tel: 01223 237424 email: s.parr@cambscci.co.uk
Cambridge is number one In UK for quality events venues
Event organisers choosing a space in Cambridge to hold their conferences and meetings now have added reassurance that 38 venues have been awarded the Meetings Industry Association’s official seal of approval – more than any other destination in the UK. The AIM Secure accreditation is an independent quality check showing that venues have met stringent criteria which demonstrates they can deliver an exceptional standard of service. Meet Cambridge, the official events bureau for the city and surrounding area, has been instrumental in working with venues to secure this accolade, resulting in a total of 33 venues from its own portfolio being included. AIM Secure scrutinises a range of areas: the quality of the meeting and events facilities, commitment to delivering a healthy and hygienic environment, standard of service delivery, compliance with legislation and a commitment to diversity, inclusion and the environment. Judith Sloane, Head of Meet Cambridge, said: “We are delighted that Cambridge is out in front when it comes to quality venues, including 33 of our own members, who have succeeded in achieving the high standards demanded by AIM Secure. “It provides a valuable shortcut for event organisers who can be confident that all key elements have been independently assessed and awarded this quality accolade and endorsement by our industry’s leading trade association. This reassurance, coupled with the unique spaces and experiences Cambridge can offer, reinforces its appeal for meetings of all kinds.”
Roythornes strengthens team with 13 senior promotions
Alex Forster Georgina Worley
Roythornes Solicitors has made a raft of senior promotions with 13 team members taking on partner, senior associate, and associate roles. The Alconbury office sees Alex Forster and Georgina Worley become a partner and Mary Sargent, Navroop Kaur and Joseph Stoehr all join the associate rank. In Peterborough, Kelly Eagers has been promoted to partner. In Spalding – where the company was founded in 1934 – Desley Sherwin and Rebecca Jackson have been promoted to partner, Talat Mahmood to senior associate, and Alex Murray and Robert Carter to associate level. The Birmingham team, which is celebrating moving into a brandnew office on Newhall Street following two years of impressive growth and expansion across key sectors, has promoted Jessica Duck and Tasha Tabannor-Robinson to associate level. Gillian Nash-Kennell, HR Director at Roythornes, said: “We are delighted to announce our annual raft of senior promotions as recognising and rewarding the hard work of our staff is incredibly important to us. “All 13 staff members have been, and continue to be, great assets to the team and this is reflected with their promotions – giving a boost to the Alconbury, Birmingham, Peterborough, and Spalding offices as well as their departments.” The top 150 national law firm has five strategically located offices across the Midlands and East Anglia and adopts a one team ethos. Working across a range of sectors – including agriculture, real estate, and food and drink – Roythornes’ team of recognised experts offer trusted advice to clients across the UK.
