Yorkshire-based Flair Furniture Group has appointed Paul Atherton as Group Chief Executive Officer, as former CEO and Founder Ashley Hainsworth steps into the role of Chairman.

Paul brings extensive experience in retail, consumer brands, technology, digital transformation and commercial leadership, and will be supporting the furniture group with its next phase of growth.

In his new role, Paul will be responsible for leading the group’s strategic direction, with a focus on accelerating growth, strengthening customer and retail partnerships, developing Flair’s digital and direct-to-consumer capabilities, and building on the group’s position within the furniture and home sector.



Sage (FTSE: SGE), accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses, announced its latest global intake of 175 graduates and apprentices as it invests in the skills needed for an increasingly AI-enabled economy.

With AI changing how businesses operate and the skills people need, Deloitte research identifies that insufficient workforce skills are the biggest barrier businesses face when integrating AI into existing work.

As Sage brings AI into more everyday business workflows, it is investing in people alongside technology. The new cohort of graduates and apprentices will work alongside experienced colleagues across Sage and contribute to the accounting, finance, HR and payroll technology its customers rely on.



Property lender Together has announced the appointment of banking and corporate real estate expert Mark Heyes as the finance firm expands its regional presence.

Mark, who has more than four decades of experience in financial services, has been appointed the business’s Corporate Sales Director for Yorkshire.

At Together, he will be responsible for promoting the specialist lender’s award-winning products, including bridging loans, commercial mortgages and development finance, to professional sector introducers and direct customers across the rapidly growing region.



Aon plc the global professional services firm, has welcomed four apprentices to its Leeds office as part of its Early Careers programme.

Over the course of their apprenticeship, the new recruits will earn while they learn, combining structured study with meaningful hands-on experience. Working alongside experienced colleagues, they will contribute to client projects while developing their technical knowledge, workplace skills and wider professional capabilities.

Marcus Cunningham, Isaac Subhani, Bodhi Marklew and Marcus English have joined Aon as apprentices.



Planning consultancy Quod is strengthening its northern operation with the relocation of industrial and logistics specialist Hannah Hiscock from its London to Leeds offices, and three mid-year promotions in its Leeds team.

The investment comes as devolution, the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Local Plan reform reshape development across England. From its Leeds office, Quod is responding to growing demand for commercially focused advice across industrial and logistics, housing, mixed-use development, infrastructure, town centre regeneration, sustainability and placemaking.



Deloitte has welcomed 43 graduates, apprentices and industrial placement students to its Yorkshire practice, as the firm continues to invest in talent and support long-term growth across the region.

The new cohort includes graduates, apprentices joining Deloitte's award-winning BrightStart programme, and industrial placement students gaining hands-on experience as part of their university studies.

The new joiners have joined teams in audit and assurance, tax and legal, and technology and transformation.

In total, Deloitte welcomed more than 1,500 early careers professionals this year, including 1,353 new graduates, apprentices and industrial placement students. This year’s early careers intake also includes 130 individuals who joined our technical academies* and have progressed into Deloitte’s UK-wide technology teams, as well as a further 20 individuals who will join the academies later this month.

The new hires are based across 21 locations throughout the UK, with 44% (590) of them starting their careers outside of London.



Avison Young has made eight strategic appointments in Leeds, demonstrating the firm's commitment to long-term growth in the regions. The firm’s investment in new talent reflects sustained business growth across Yorkshire and the North East.

The new hires, whose roles span Building Consultancy, Service Charge Consultancy, Property Management, Planning, and Real Estate Infrastructure and Facilities Management, will support a growing portfolio of instructions across both the public and private sectors.

Joining the Service Charge Consultancy team are Andy Ingle as a Cost Analyst and Charlie Davies as an Occupier Cost Analyst. Three have also been appointed in the Building Consultancy team, including Joe Kelly as a Graduate Building Surveyor, Megan Stacey-Green as an Associate Director, and Daniel Osborne as a Senior Project Manager.

Kieran Carroll, Owen Pressley and Charlie Fieldhouse also join the Property Management, Place Advisory and Real Estate Infrastructure and Facilities Management teams in the roles of Surveyor, Graduate Planner and Senior Surveyor, respectively.