Appointments: New partner for law firm's specialist planning team

Steve Hawkins has more than 30 years' experience in all aspects of planning law and has worked at Rollits, in Hull, and Gordons, in Leeds, for the past 18 years.

AFI-Uplift, a company which supplies platforms to enable people to work safely at height, has expanded the team at its Hull depot by appointing Steve Skeates as business development manager. In his new role, Mr Skeates will develop relationships with customers, as well as being involved in sales and after-sales services.

Property services firm George F White has announced a new appointment at its office in Bedale, North Yorkshire.

Linda Thornborrow is the new assistant to chartered surveyor James Alderson. Ms Thornbarrow, who is from a farming family in Swaledale, will support the company's farming clients.

Skipton-based Whitakers Chocolates has recruited two sales representatives, Amy Tennant and Petra Schouten.

Joining from the Copper Dragon Brewery in Skipton, Ms Tennant previously worked in the sales team at Whitakers and is now returning to the business to take responsibility for the north-west.

Dutch-born Ms Schouten has lived in the UK for 10 year. She worked as development manager for the UK's largest flower and plant wholesaler before turning freelance.

Andrew Crosbee has been appointed as bid manager at Powerminster Gleeson Services, based in Sheffield.

Mr Crosbee's role will involve working alongside the business development team to respond to tender requests and put together proposals from both private- and public-sector clients for Powerminster's building maintenance, facilities management and gas and electrical repair and maintenance services.

He has more than 20 years' experience in the building maintenance industry.

Rick Warburton has been appointed managing partner for Yorkshire Bank's York-based North Yorkshire Financial Solutions Centre (FSC).

He succeeds Martin Ibbetson, who held the post for two years and has now been appointed Yorkshire Bank's assistant director east, supporting regional director Richard Norrington.