Emma Pearmaine is Managing Director at Ridley and Hall Solicitors, and winner of the Yorkshire Law Awards Managing Partner of the Year Award 2020.
As a family and matrimonial specialist for over 25 years, she has represented clients in divorce and children cases across England and Wales.
In 2018, Emma was shortlisted in the Forward Ladies National Awards 2018, Female Entrepreneur of the Year category in Yorkshire, North East and Scotland.
In 2014 she won the Modern Lawyer ‘Lawyer of the Year’ Award.
Emma has been a member of the Multi Party Family Courts Parliamentary Group, is a Past President and current Director of Leeds Law Society, and current Vice President of The Yorkshire Union of Law Societies. She has judged at the Yorkshire Law Awards and Insider Magazine Awards.
Emma’s focus is now on her role as Managing Director, and she leads the Ridley & Hall management team, employing over 124 people across Yorkshire.
Emma is married and is the very proud mother of 2 grown up sons. In her spare time, she loves to be with her family and friends, she cooks up a storm in the kitchen, enjoys walking the dog in the countryside and loves a good book.
Andy Clarke is the Head of Strategic Partnerships for Ahead Partnership, who are experts in creating youth engagement programmes around the world of work. He leads on building the organisation’s presence nationally and specifically leads on their work with the public sector in addition to the organisation’s work on green skills, legal and transport careers. Prior to this, Andy worked in corporate affairs for a decade. In this time, he worked for a Member of Parliament and prior to joining Ahead Partnership, he was the Head of Corporate Affairs for Manchester Airport, where he was responsible for reputation and building relationships with key stakeholders, including local, regional and national Government. In his spare time, he is on the Board of the Fragile X Society, a disability charity.
I am an Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprentice at Mott MacDonald, based in Leeds. I began my apprenticeship journey almost 3 years ago, immediately after completing my A-Levels. During this time, I have developed a strong interest in environmental coordination and social outcomes, with a keen desire to further explore sustainable practices. As the apprentice early career professional (ECP) lead for the Water & Environment unit at Mott MacDonald, I actively engage in initiatives to promote and celebrate apprenticeships. I am currently pursuing my degree in Environmental Management, with the aspiration of one day becoming a Chartered Environmentalist.
Liz Mills is the Programme Lead MMedSci Advanced Clinical Practice (apprenticeship and non apprenticeship route) and The School of Allied Health Professions, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery Deputy Director of Education For PGT and CPD. As part of these roles Liz has developed CPD modules that are now part of the CPD portfolio, along with developing bespoke CPD workshops for Allied Health Professionals to develop their leadership qualities. She has worked in higher education for the past 17 years, teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing and healthcare programmes. Liz's background is in both children's nursing and neonatal nursing. Before moving into academia Liz was a clinical educator in neonatal care for 6 years. During this time she chaired the local Neonatal education group for the term of 1 year. Prior to that her clinical background was both in neonatal care and paediatric respiratory. Liz qualified as a RGN in 1995, where she worked on a children's ward as part of their respiratory nursing team, this enabled her to complete the shortened RSCN conversion course, qualifying in 1999. Liz moved into neonatal care the same year and completed the ENB 405 (neonatal speciality course) in 2001.
Brandon Jones is Head of External Relations for First Bus across the UK and brings more than 25 years of experience in the bus industry. During his career he has held
a number of senior roles across commercial, communications and customer-focused functions.
Brandon holds a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. His professional background spans communications, customer experience and public affairs, with a strong track record in stakeholder engagement and strategic communications.
With board-level experience and a strong commitment to developing talent, Brandon is a passionate advocate for coaching, mentoring and professional development.
As a judging panel member for the apprenticeship awards, he brings extensive industry insight and a keen interest in recognising and supporting the next generation of talent.
