A NORTH Yorkshire bakeware company with more than 100 years’ manufacturing heritage has appointed a new business development manager to expand markets for both its industrial bakeware and recently introduced plastic ranges.

Lee Croucher joins Invicta Bakeware – which has its factory base in Pickering - with a strong track record in the baking industry, having held senior sales roles at Eurobake, Benier and Cleanbake (now American Pan UK).

Mr Croucher started his career as an apprentice with a small craft bakery in Lancashire before moving into the in-store supermarket sector with a bakery management position at Asda.

In this new role at Invicta, Mr Croucher will be responsible for extending the client base for both Invicta Bakeware and Food Industry Supplies (the company’s plastics trading division) as well as assisting with the development of new products.

John Waddington, managing director at Invicta Bakeware, said: "We’ve got big plans to extend our client base and Lee’s considerable experience and in-depth industry knowledge will help us to develop new business opportunities and offer an increased sales service to existing customers."

GROWING law firm Newtons Solicitors has continued to expand with the appointment of a new senior solicitor.

Carole Gibbs joins Newtons Solicitors head office in Knaresborough, becoming the seventh member of the group’s Wills and Probate team.

Ms Gibbs, who qualified in 1991, joins from Hartlaw, in Wetherby and specialises in wills, trusts, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney and probate matters for clients throughout York and North Yorkshire.

Newtons Solicoitors founder and managing director, Chris Newton said: "Carole follows our pattern of attracting experienced lawyers who are established in their field. She is a significant boost to our thriving private client department at a time of growing public awareness abut the benefits of these services.”

Newtons Solicitors was founded by Chris Newton and his wife, Sarah, who is also a director, in 2009. The firm also has offices in York, Darlington, Harrogate, Ilkley, Leyburn, Ripon, Richmond, and Stokesley with a total of 13 directors and LLP partners and 38 lawyers.