Appointments: Magnificent seven for law firm Gordons

The newly-qualified solicitors completed the Leeds and Bradford firm's training programme which includes four six-month seats in the commercial litigation, corporate, commercial property and private client departments.

They are: Amanda Blacker, corporate; Grace Cowling, commercial litigation; Greg Dixon, personal law; Gareth Miles, commercial property; Oliver Turner, corporate; Louise Tatton, contentious wills, trusts and probate; and Mark Jones, commercial litigation.

PR firm Purebrand has appointed David Nutter as its a new head of client services.

Mr Nutter joins the agency, based in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, from Home Marketing, Leeds.

Meanwhile, Leeds University graduate Annabel Varley takes up the role of account executive within the client services team.

Grant Thornton has strengthened its Leeds-based corporate finance team with the appointment of five new recruits.

Vicky Wilson, joins the transaction advisory services division from the firm's audit team, while Alice Harvey, previously of Deloitte, has also joined the team.

The lead advisory team has been bolstered by three further internal recruits, with Kate Lawenson, Payam Keyghobadi and Scott Brady making the permanent switch from the tax, GIA and audit departments.

A record number of Leeds-based barristers have been appointed deputy district judges by the Judicial Appointments Commission – an independent public body that selects candidates for judicial office.

There are believed to be a total of 25 new civil deputy district judges for the north-eastern circuit. Six of them are members of Zenith Chambers in Leeds: Jillian Bell, George Blanchflower, Sarah Greenan, Panjak Madan, Anesh Pema and Simon Ross.

Relay Recruitment has continued to build its commercial team by appointing South African staffing specialist Kerry Dawson and welcoming back former consultant Rachel Hunter.

Ms Dawson joins the Leeds office from Kelly of Johannesburg, while Ms Hunter returns to Relay's York office after a year at Spring. They will head their respective teams.

Yorkshire Bank corporate and structured finance has made two promotions as it expands the team in Yorkshire and the North-East.

Ross Lumsden and Stephanie Campbell have both stepped up to the position of manager while two new associates, Ann Cross and Ian Marshall, have joined the team to fill their old roles after being promoted from within the bank.

Specialist sports and leisure marketing agency Banana Kick has added two new starters to its team.

Thea Bailey joins the Leeds-based firm as creative artworker from Gratterpalm agency and brings with her eight years experience in the creative and design industry.

After a six-month internship with the agency, Gavin Wilkinson has been offered a junior designer role.

Food manufacturing and warehousing recruitment specialist Industrious People has welcomed three new starters to its rapidly expanding team.

Philip Wagstaff is business development manager at the Leeds-based firm, while Lauren Parker and Darren Davis are on-site contract managers for two large food manufacturers in Livingston and Sheffield respectively.

Barclays Corporate has appointed Tracy Muniz-Ryan to its South Yorkshire team as a relationship director.

She previously worked in the Barclays multinational corporate team in London and will now be responsible for corporate clients with a turnover in excess of 5m in the South Yorkshire region.

On-line recruitment company Blue Octopus has appointed and promoted six new members of staff.

Angela Bradshaw moves up to client delivery manager and Kelsie Walton is promoted to client delivery co-ordinator at the firm, which is based in Otley.

John Gill is now a service proposal co-ordinator and Steph Long has been promoted to lead client delivery co-ordinator, and Natasha Coleman and Kelly Laurenson join as client delivery co-ordinators.