News Archives

Polly Kerr talks to ITV Anglia News

Posted on 2 March 202330 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

ITV News has released a report on the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in East Anglia.

The survey of 500 parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities showed there is a significant level of dissatisfaction among families. It also highlighted that there were many service and provision shortcomings. Additionally, the findings reveal a system that puts hundreds of individuals in debt.
The survey revealed that 32% of parents claimed their child was not receiving the support they were entitled to, as per their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Polly Kerr spoke to ITV Anglia News, sharing her thoughts on the current state of SEND provision:

“I don’t think it would [change much] because I don’t think there are the school places available or the resources available to be able to affect change now.”
“It’s going to be like moving the Titanic.”

She said thousands of children were being failed.

You can read the full report here:
Thousands of parents and children being failed by special educational needs system, research shows | ITV News Anglia

Tees Wealth Management listed in Citywire New Model Adviser Top 100

Posted on 9 January 202330 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

We are proud to announce that our wealth team at Tees has been recognised by Citywire’s New Model Adviser as a Top 100 financial planning firm in 2022.

New Model Adviser is a prominent industry publication and its Top 100 honours the best of the financial planning community, recognising advice firms across the UK who are leading the way in the industry and providing exceptional Client service. As one of the top 100 financial planning firms in the UK, we have been widely praised by our clients, and through our team of experienced professional advisers, we help our clients to realise their financial goals, objectives and dreams, through our bespoke financial planning service.

James Appleby, commented “We are delighted to be named in the New Model Adviser Top 100. This acknowledgment recognises Tees’ commitment to our clients and the communities in which we operate, as well as the high level of professionalism, dedication and client focus demonstrated by the advice team.“

Sports Connection Foundation receives Tees Better Future Fund grant

Posted on 2 December 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Better Future Fund is very pleased to announce that the Sports Connection Foundation in Essex is the second community project to receive a Tees Better Future Fund Grant.

Sports Connections Foundation uses the power of sport to inspire, empower, educate and transform the lives of children and young people.

Founded 12 years ago by ex-professional footballer Junior McDougald, Sports Connections Foundation now uses 4 different distinct programmes to transform the lives of disadvantaged children:

Sporting Wishes – special sporting memories for children with life-limiting conditions.
ProKick Schools Challenge – providing Primary Schools with a football-related, sponsored activity which raises awareness of less fortunate children in the world and promotes physical activity.
Inspire Through Sport International – provides funding and vital educational resources to an impoverished orphanage and a nursery in Burkina Faso, Africa.
Inspire Through Sport – provides sport inspired youth work and sports camps with additional enrichment activities and coaching and mentoring for children and young people referred to SCF as being disadvantaged in some way.

These programmes have helped over 550,000 children so far and the number continues to grow every day.

Through their connections and partnerships, SCF gives young people, from a range of different backgrounds, access to Industry Professionals, Mentors & SCF Ambassadors who will help to develop skills, build self-esteem and confidence, and raise aspirations and help to create role models for the next generation.

The £5000 grant from Tees will help fund a new ‘Inspire Through Sport’ project to provide mentoring sessions, positive play and therapeutic intervention, Theme Positive Activity and a school holiday programme to 30 children who are facing the challenge of poor mental health, social isolation and economic deprivation. These children, it is feared, may struggle in the transition from primary school to secondary school.

Thirty children will be picked from across three different schools in the Primary Schools of the Cresco Multi-Academy Trust – Great Berry, Janet Duke and Noak Bridge Primary Schools in Basildon in Essex.

SCF Youth Workers will lead 1-1 sessions and small group sessions with youth workers in early 2023. From these sessions, SCF Youth Workers will be able to identify personal growth goals for each child and over the sessions will work with the child to communicate and express their emotions healthily and build resilience and self-confidence, assisting their mental health and contributing positively to improving their quality of life.

All 30 children will be offered an enrichment activity – a trip to an event or venue which they have helped to choose. This will provide them with the opportunity to mix with others that they would otherwise not have met and an experience that they otherwise would not have been able to access.

The conclusion of the project will be a combined summer camp at the secondary school that the children will most likely progress to. They will be able to focus on group sports, team building and personal development. They will be provided with food and drinks to help alleviate pressure on the families during the camps.

Executive Partner and Co-chair of the Tees Better Future Fund, Janine Collier commented “We were inspired by the vision that Sports Connection Foundation had for the Inspire Through Sport Project- the vision to use sport to engage and inspire disadvantaged children to help them make that transition from primary school to secondary school. This is such a key time in any child’s development, we hope that supporting those who may otherwise struggle through this time will raise confidence, build skills and enable them to thrive, not just survive in the transition. The project also increases access to sports and exercise for children and will help improve physical and mental health through activity.

We are looking forward to getting to know the children involved in the programme and to hearing how this project has helped shape the way they approach the challenges that they face, their progress at school and, their mental and physical wellbeing.

New academy at Tees Financial launches with first two participants

Posted on 6 November 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Financial has launched a new adviser academy, to train aspiring Financial Advisers. ‘The Academy at Tees Financial Limited’ has enrolled its first two participants, who will follow a structured two-year apprenticeship programme that combines studying for the CII’s Diploma in Financial Advice, with hands on experience of the day-to-day role of a financial adviser.

As well as studying for their Level 4 Financial Adviser exams, the Academy participants will learn on the job, shadowing experienced Tees financial advisers. The programme will provide participants with key objectives to take away from every stage and gives a broad experience of the different roles across the whole of the Firm.

James Appleby, Managing Director of Tees Financial Ltd, commented “The Academy at Tees Financial Ltd is a key part of our long term growth strategy, and we’re proud to be investing in young talented individuals who represent the future of financial advice.”

People person

Percy Sam is one of the Academy’s new recruits. He studied Industrial Design at Bournemouth University, graduating with a master’s degree in 2020. Soon after, he started a full-time office role with Tees Financial Ltd in the Bishop’s Stortford office.

A self-proclaimed “people person”, it didn’t take him long to get to know everyone by name. In November 2021, he saw an advert for the Academy and, encouraged by his colleagues, applied.

Before his interview, he talked to as many Financial Advisers as possible in order to understand the role and whether he really wanted to do it. “I want to help people” Percy says. “Managing your finances isn’t something they teach very well at school”.

Supportive environment

Having successfully passed the application process, Percy started his two-year journey in September 2022. The first month has been “exciting”, he says. “There’s not enough hours in the day!”

As well as getting used to the course structure and “financial services jargon”, he has started studying through the online learning course. He’s particularly excited to start shadowing advisers: “You get to learn whilst on the job and you get to see how it all works in practice as well as theory”.

“Tees is such an amazing place to work” he adds. Experienced advisers are “open and interested to talk about what they do”, which creates a “very supportive” learning environment.

Fitness to finance

Guy Pearson, who studied Exercise, Nutrition and Health at Nottingham Trent University, is also the Academy’s new recruit.

After graduating in 2018, he set up as a Personal Trainer, before the pandemic disrupted his business and prompted him to change career paths. “There are actually a lot of similarities between personal training and Financial Advice” Guy notes. “Both are, fundamentally, about assessing someone’s current situation, finding out where they want to be and planning how they’re going to get there.”

In 2021, Guy joined a large advisory firm but felt that the programme lacked the support and resources needed to study for the Financial Adviser exams. That was when he decided to apply to the Academy at Tees Financial Ltd.

Structure and support

Guy was drawn to the structured approach of the Academy, which allows him to combine a carefully planned study schedule with on-the-job work experience. Tees provides all the support and resources needed for them to excel in the Financial Adviser exams, as well as abundant opportunities to learn from experienced advisers.

Having started in August 2022, he has already begun shadowing advisers. “It’s a great way to gain first-hand experience of the work” he says. “For four days a week, I get to shadow financial advisers, then one day a week I’m following the structured online learning.”

He appreciates the certainty of having the whole pathway mapped out in front of him, as well as knowing that, after two years, he will be a fully qualified Financial Adviser, with abundant work experience to boot.

Role models

The common factor between Percy and Guy is that neither of them expected to end up where they are now.

“The Academy at Tees Financial Ltd offers an opportunity to become a qualified Financial Adviser in two years” says James Appleby. “We’re looking for candidates with the right attitude and aptitude, regardless of past experience.”

“It wasn’t even on my radar” Percy admits. “I knew nothing about financial advising before joining Tees!” Having found his calling now, Percy is ambitious: he wants to become a Level 7 Financial Adviser. “I’ve always wanted to keep progressing” he says. “My goal is one day to match the experience and knowledge of the Tees Financial Advisers.”

Community impact

The Academy at Tees Financial Ltd is a rolling programme, which will welcome one or two new recruits each year. Part of Tees Financial Ltd’s longer-term growth strategy.

“We have a highly professional and experienced team of financial advisers at Tees and The Academy is a chance for them to share their wealth of knowledge with people at the start of their careers” says James Appleby.

The Times’ Best Law Firms 2023

Posted on 3 November 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Tees Law has been named for the first time in the prestigious ‘The Times Best Law Firms’.

Now in its fifth year, the list recognises the most highly regarded law firms as recommended by legal professionals. Statista, an international market research firm, conducted surveys among thousands of lawyers and used their responses to identify the leading 250 law firms in England & Wales, and the top 40 in Scotland.

Tees was commended for the Private Client- Inheritance and Succession Planning work.

Group Managing Partner Ashton Hunt said “Our inclusion in The Times list acknowledges our expertise and market-leading client experience. Our significant talent across our firm and a consistent commitment to excellence allows us to provide the best possible service to our clients.”

You can see the full list here (Best Law Firms 2023 in cooperation with Statista | The Times)

Tees announce Total Arts project as their first Better Future Fund grant recipient

Posted on 2 November 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

The Tees Better Future Fund was setup in May 2022 to offer grants up to £5,000 for projects that support learning and education and promoting good health and well-being in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.

We have now completed the first round of applications and we are very pleased to announce that one of the first two community projects to receive a Tees Better Future Fund Grant is the Total Arts project at The Cambridge Junction.

Cambridge Junction is a registered Charity whose objectives include: promoting, maintaining, improving and advancing the education of the public (in particular younger people in Cambridge) in the appreciation of and participation in the arts; and relieving poverty, sickness and distress among young people.

Cambridge Junction’s Total Arts programme has been running for 12 years and focuses on providing creative learning opportunities to young disabled people. It provides opportunities for 13- 25-year-old’s with a range of physical and learning disabilities to develop their skills at their performing arts groups. Participants can explore their passions for the arts, learn new skills and make films. As their confidence has grown some are now ready to take on leadership roles and share their skills with the next generation of disabled young people. Total Arts ‘graduates’ are excellent role models, exemplifying how young people with complex needs can grow their skills and play a valuable role in sharing their expertise.

A £5,000 grant from the Better Future Fund will fund an expansion of the Total Arts programme so that ‘graduate’ trainers work alongside an art producer and a filmmaker to work with young people from Castle SEN School (on Courtney Way) and the new autism specialist Cavendish School (in Impington). It will also enable both the Castle SEN school and the Cavendish specialist school pupils to attend a professional arts venue and performance, experiencing the magic of live theatre.

The project will start with attendance at The Nutcracker, Cambridge Junction’s inclusive Christmas show, created by Moxie Brawl’s company of disabled and non-disabled artists. This will be followed by a tailored workshop and film making sessions in the Spring. The workshops will include some skills building around basic story-telling skills, devising and scripting scenes and shooting and creating a film. The films created will be celebrated next summer at the Total Arts Film Festival.

The support from the Better Future Fund will allow for inter-generational skills development for both the Total Arts ‘graduates’ as they become trainers, as well as the pupils from these schools. The trainers receive paid work and experience and the pupils are helped to imagine how they might develop their interests in a realistic and meaningful way.

Janine Collier, Co-Head of Tees’ Social Responsibility, said, “the Cambridge Junction is a charity embedded within our community just like Tees. I love the vision that the Junction has for the extension of the Total Arts programme – it is inter-generational and sustainable, creating opportunities for young people with complex needs to build skills, increase in conference and improve mental health and well-being as they explore their passion for creative arts. We look forward to partnering with the Junction over the forthcoming months, to hearing the lived experience of the participants and to seeing lives changed”.

Caroline Andrews reflects after speaking at AEPOCS conference

Posted on 1 November 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Caroline Andrews, a Fertility Law Solicitor, was invited by the Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society (AEPCOS) to speak on behalf of Verity, a national charity for PCOS, at their annual conference in California, USA. She attended in her role as a volunteer trustee.

At the conference, Caroline emphasised the importance of providing comprehensive support to patients with fertility-affecting conditions. Beyond medical interventions, she highlighted the need for emotional and legal support in an increasingly complex world.

Reflecting on her experience, Caroline noted the stark differences between Fertility Law in the USA and in England and Wales. She shared her insights on fertility treatment and surrogacy practices across these jurisdictions.

Caroline’s perspective on fertility law differences

“It was fascinating to observe how fertility treatment and surrogacy laws differ in the USA compared to here.

In some US states, anti-abortion laws have led to embryos being granted ‘personhood rights.’ This legal shift has significant implications for IVF procedures. In contrast, England and Wales are governed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which provides clear regulations on the storage and use of embryos. Hearing firsthand from American women about the impact of Roe v Wade’s repeal was deeply moving.

In July this year, an amendment to the HFEA Act 2008 extended the storage period for embryos, sperm, and eggs to 55 years, subject to the consent of both parties every ten years. Cases in England have debated what constitutes valid consent, particularly when one party passes away. A notable contrast is the USA, where legal disputes like the high-profile case of Sofia Vergara and her ex-partner have brought these issues to light. With more people considering the freezing of eggs, sperm, or embryos, understanding both the medical and legal implications is essential.

Some US states have introduced laws requiring medical insurance to cover certain fertility treatments, helping mitigate the significant costs involved. Meanwhile, in England, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) released a report in September 2022, highlighting compliance issues in fertility clinics and concerns about unexpected additional costs. This report is a valuable resource for anyone considering fertility treatment.

Surrogacy law: An international perspective

Regarding surrogacy, the legal framework in England and Wales is often viewed as outdated. The surrogate remains the legal parent until a parental order is granted post-birth. Although the Law Commission has proposed changes to modernise surrogacy law, implementation remains a distant prospect. As a result, some individuals pursue international surrogacy, but they must be cautious about the varying legal restrictions across US states and in England.

A final thought

As a patient representative in my spare time, I’m acutely aware of the emotional, physical, and financial toll of fertility treatment. However, as a family lawyer, I believe it’s equally important for people to consider the legal implications of their choices. How these laws will evolve remains to be seen.”

Stay tuned for a video link to Caroline’s full presentation.

NFU confirms appointment of its legal panel firms in East Anglia

Posted on 10 October 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

The NFU has confirmed the outcome of its 2022 review of legal panel firms, with two firms reappointed to the panel in East Anglia.

Tees and HCR Hewitsons have been reappointed after a review that assessed the firms’ legal services, engagement with the organisation and its members, as well as feedback from NFU members and staff.

NFU director of policy Andrew Clark said: “The legal panel is an important feature of the NFU’s legal services offering to our members and I am delighted to confirm the reappointments.

“The NFU’s panel firms are committed to supporting NFU members and have clearly strengthened their agricultural and rural teams over the past few years. Their broad expertise is highly valued by our in-house legal team and NFU members.”

Tees has been reappointed to help members farming in Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk. Partner Caroline Metcalf said: “We are pleased to have been selected to be on the NFU legal panel again. Being selected really demonstrates Tees’ depth of legal knowledge and expertise in agricultural and rural issues.”

The firms appointed to the legal panel offer a comprehensive legal service encompassing all areas of law relevant to farming and growing, including succession planning, diversification, renewable energy, dispute resolution, planning, probate, family and conveyancing. In the latest financial year, the panel offered a total discount of over £500,000 to NFU members.

NFU legal board chair Nick Hamer said: “The aftermath of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic created several challenges for farming and growing businesses”

“We are entering a period of transition for the industry and this undoubtedly puts the legal panel in high demand, providing expert advice to NFU members on a wide range of legal matters.”

BBC News – Peterborough City Hospital: Ex-doctor warned over treatment withdrawal

Posted on 28 August 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

Dr Andrew Gregg worked at Peterborough City Hospital, where 41-year-old Simon Scott died in January 2016. A misconduct panel found Dr Gregg “failed to adequately consult with any clinical colleagues regarding [the] decision to withdraw active treatment”.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Scott’s family, Tim Deeming from Tees Law said: “They are incredibly disappointed by the outcome and hope that the coroner’s inquest in due course will be a full, frank and fearless investigation into all of the circumstances.”

Read the full article; Peterborough City Hospital: Ex-doctor warned over treatment withdrawal.

BBC News – Cheltenham: Baby death prompts change in hospital’s guidelines

Posted on 24 May 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

A hospital’s guidelines for referring mums-to-be for specialist maternity help have been changed after the death of a baby at a midwife-run NHS centre.

Margot Frances Bowtell was born 14 May 2020 at a unit in Cheltenham but died of a brain injury at three days old.

A report by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) found there was a failure to update mother Laura Harvey’s risk assessment after a bleed.

Solicitor Sarah Stocker of Tees Law said: “The midwives failed to follow national, and the hospital’s own, guidelines on multiple occasions during Laura’s labour.”

Read the full article; Cheltenham: Baby death prompts change in hospital’s guidelines.

Tees Better Future Fund

Posted on 18 May 202230 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

At Tees, we are committed to supporting our local communities and building a better future. The creation of the Tees Better Future Fund reflects our long-standing heritage and dedication to lifelong learning, as well as our passion for connecting people and communities across generations. Our roots run deep in the local area, with our partners and employees proudly supporting numerous charities, clubs, schools, and community projects over the years.

About the Fund

The Tees Better Future Fund offers grants of up to £5,000 for projects that focus on:

Promoting Learning and Education
Promoting Good Health and Wellbeing

We welcome applications for initiatives that nurture talent, promote social mobility, and create opportunities for people to thrive. Projects that aim to increase knowledge, improve mental health, build skills, and raise confidence are encouraged. By supporting learning and education, we can work together to improve the life chances of the younger generation.

Promoting Learning and Education

We are passionate about supporting projects that empower individuals through education. If your initiative is designed to develop talent, broaden opportunities, or foster personal and professional growth, we would love to hear from you.

Promoting Good Health and Wellbeing

We are particularly interested in projects that improve access to sports and physical activities for children, young people, and families. Encouraging active lifestyles helps to enhance both physical and mental health, reduce isolation, and foster community connections. We also welcome applications for initiatives supporting mental health and wellbeing.

Our Key Priorities

Supporting young people
Assisting children and families
Promoting education and learning
Enhancing mental and physical health through sports
Encouraging talent development and growth
Creating new opportunities and improving access

How to Apply

If you would like to apply for a grant, please visit the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (CCF) webpage: Tees Better Future Fund.

Application Deadlines: 1st February and 1st August.

Support the Fund

If you would like to contribute to the Tees Better Future Fund and help us provide grants for future projects, please visit our JustGiving page. Your support will make a meaningful difference in our community.

Together, we can build a brighter future for all.

NHS Litigation Reform: Tees Law submits evidence

Posted on 9 November 202130 March 2025 by Sarah O'Sullivan

In September 2021 the Government’s Health & Social Care Committee launched a new inquiry to examine the case for the reform of NHS litigation.

Our Tier 1 Medical Negligence team represents patients who have suffered avoidable harm as a result of medical accidents. The team, led by Executive Partner Janine Collier, has extensive lived experience of NHS Litigation and is passionate about improving patient safety and giving clients a voice.

Janine and her team have put forward their evidence to the inquiry as they have significant concerns and wish to ensure that patients who have suffered avoidable harm whilst under the care of the NHS are appropriately represented, their voices heard and that access to justice is not compromised.

A need to focus on culture, not costs

The NHS is the largest employer in the UK and one of the largest employers in the world. The cost of NHS litigation must be seen in this context.

Over the past four years, total payments and administration costs under NHS Resolution clinical schemes have remained steady at between roughly 1.5% and 1.6% of the total NHS budget. This is a very low percentage compared to other organisations, where indemnity costs range from 1% to 15%, with almost all over 2%.

The main way to reduce cost – both human and financial – is to reduce avoidable harm.

There is evidence of a “defensive culture”, “dysfunctional teams” and “safety lessons not learned” across the NHS and until this is addressed, lessons will not be learned, change will not be implemented, errors will continue to be not just made, but repeated. The H&SC Committee’s own report into Maternity Safety published in July identifies a culture of blame within NHS Trusts.

Our medical negligence team’s view is that it is morally unacceptable to look to introduce any kind of legal reform which impedes access to justice or appropriate compensation for those who have been injured at the hands of the NHS through no fault of their own. This includes, but is not limited to, a possible introduction of fixed recoverable costs, which would have a disproportionate effect on the most vulnerable in our society.

The full version of our evidence to the inquiry can be viewed here. The outcome of the inquiry is expected in 2022.