Graham Wilkinson, the Principal and Chief Executive of Kendal College, has announced that he will be retiring at the end of May.

Graham, joined Kendal College in 2001 and has been credited with helping transform the College from the failing status it had on his arrival. The college says the highlights of his time in Kendal include being the only college in Cumbria and North Lancashire to achieve an Ofsted outstanding rating in 2011 and being named one of the most successful colleges in the country by FE Week in 2016.

Prior to joining Kendal College, Graham had established a successful career in the hospitality industry, and training at a Swiss School specialising in culinary arts including being one of the chefs to HRH Queen Elizabeth.

Speaking about his time at Kendal College, Graham said: “We’ve always been a small college but that hasn’t stopped us punching way above our weight in terms of the numbers of apprentices we take on and the ultimate success of our students. We truly make a real difference to the business community and its productivity in the North West and I am so proud of what we’ve all managed to achieve together over the last 17 years.”

Legal firm Harrison Drury has added four new trainees to its staff, one of whom will be joining its Kendal offices.

Olivia Bailey, Charlotte Hurst, Rachel Taylor and Alex Walmsley have been offered training contracts with the firm.

Taylor, who also studied at University of Central Lancashire, will join the family team at Harrison Drury’s Kendal office.

A Penrith woman who has worked around the world training people how to deal with the media has returned to Cumbria to begin a new chapter in her career.

Trading as the Media Coach, Catherine Cross is now back in Penrith where she went to QEGs and her grandfather and then father ran Eamont Vale Laundry for many years.

She has worked with numerous internationally-renowned corporate clients, using her extensive knowledge of journalism from almost 10 years as a reporter, producer and presenter in local radio, BBC network radio, Regional Television, and at the World Service.

Britain’s Energy Coasts team has been strengthened by the arrival of business administration apprentice Rachel Murray.

Rachel is a former St. Benedict’s pupil and has taken up a Level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration via. local training provider Gen2.

Speaking about her reasons for joining the team at BEC, Rachel commented: “When I met the team during the interview BEC stood out as an organisation because of how friendly they were. They took the time to get to know me but also made sure I really understood the organisation and what it does in the field of low-carbon property development. I was really attracted to working for a company that was doing good things for the environment.”

Cumbria-based print firm H&H Reed Printers has appointed a digital expert as it looks to improve its competitiveness and productivity.

Molly Blackburn has joined the company as its digital development officer, having been taken on as a “Knowledge Transfer Partnership” (KTP) associate.

The 23-year-old – who has a first class degree in marketing management from the University of Central Lancashire – will be charged with improving the company’s online presence into new and emerging markets, working with colleagues and with students and experts at UCLAN and Innovate UK.

Strategic economic body Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership has made a double appointment to help drive forward the county’s skills agenda.

Claire Dunn and Jon Power have joined the team at Cumbria LEP as sector skills managers, to strengthen links between training providers, higher education and local employers in high growth sectors with the aim of driving forward the county’s skills investment plan.

The duo will work with specific sector groups to understand their skills requirements, and liaise with education and skills providers to meet those needs.