Appointments: Specialist engineer steps in as new project director

Tony Lyons joins the company from Volker Wessels, a Dutch contracting company where he has been working on the replacement and enhancement of national railway and city tramways.

Mr Lyons will be project director of Steel Propeller – the latest subsidiary of the 200-year-old company, set-up to manage large-scale projects both in-house and for clients.

As well as being involved in the overall running of Steel Propeller, he will manage Forgemasters' 140m part-government-funded 15,000-tonne press project. The project will allow Forgemasters to make ultra-large forged components – placing it at the forefront of global nuclear power production.

Credit management and debt collection firm P&A Receivables Services has appointed specialist corporate lawyer Andrew Hartley as its first chairman.

With a background in advising businesses of all sizes over many years, Mr Hartley's experience is seen as an important part of the Sheffield-based firm's plans for further expansion and development.

Mr Hartley set up hlw Commercial Lawyers, which has offices in Sheffield and Leeds, in 1992 after 20 years as a partner at what is now DLA Piper.

Manufacturer Gripple has appointed two design engineers to its ideas and innovations team.

The Sheffield-based manufacturer of industrial hangers and agricultural wire joiners, has been joined by Andr Ferreira and Matthew Bacon.

Sign manufacturing specialist Horizon Signs has appointed two directors to run its new business after setting up a sister company, Horizon BSF.

The new company, based in Huddersfield, will focus solely on products for the education market.

Matthew Wilson partnered with Horizon to set up Horizon BSF and has taken on the role of operations director.

Sarah Devaney has also joined as sales director to forge relationships with customers, offering a better service and influencing new product development.

Marketing agency outside the box has appointed Kate Needham as business development director.

Ms Needham, whose career started in product development at Nestles Rowntree, headed marketing at Richmond Foods (now R&R), and helped to bring the company from one factory in North Yorkshire, to become the UK's largest ice cream manufacturer.

She will be based in the firm's Leeds office.