New chief executive of Key Fund sets out mission to help North’s social enterprises

The Sheffield-based Key Fund is itself a social enterprise. It offers finance in the form of loans, grants and equity packages to other social enterprises and not-for-private-profit organisations. Mr Tarff joins the Key Fund from his role as CEO of STEP Development Trust in Sheffield.

His first venture into social enterprise was as development director and chief executive at the Priory Campus Development Trust in Barnsley ten years ago. During this time he was co-opted on to the Key Fund board as a director.

Mr Tarff said: “I have known and loved the Key Fund for a decade. It’s exciting times for the organisation as all political parties now recognise the value of social investment and the benefits of growing the sector.

“With that comes more government and national initiatives, and it’s my desire to ensure that grassroots social enterprises access that investment, and put it to use where it will generate most social impact.”

Elsewhere, business adviser Grant Thornton has expanded its corporate finance advisory practice in Yorkshire with the appointment of Stephen Leah as a manager.

He joins from Rothschild where he gained three years’ experience in mid-market mergers and acquisitions working across a range of sectors including industrial engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, business support services and energy.

Meanwhile, the real estate team at law firm Mills & Reeve’s Leeds office is celebrating two promotions only seven months after the team’s inception. Senior real estate solicitor Alison Howarth has been promoted to associate, and Celia Pavitt is being promoted to solicitor.

Ms Howarth joined the firm from DAC Beachcroft in February and was a founding member of Mills & Reeve’s real estate team in Leeds. Ms Pavitt too joined Mills & Reeve earlier this year after six years at Addleshaw Goddard.