A PROPERTY developer has a new managing director.

And the appointment of Sarah Barraclough to the premier post at Skipton Properties creates history.

She is the first woman to take the reins since the Cross Hills family firm was founded 33 years ago.

Sarah succeeds her father, Brian Verity, who has taken on advisory duties as chairman.

Her career with the company began in 2003 when she joined as sales manager.

She was promoted to sales director four years later, and more recently has been working as operations director within the senior management team.

Sarah has helped oversee a period of significant growth for the firm.

In 2017-18, Skipton Properties – which has a 95-strong workforce – achieved turnover of £22.3 million, and overall turnover and profitability has more than doubled in the past five years.

Sarah said she was "extremely proud" to become MD at what she described as an exciting time in the company's history.

She added: "As Skipton Properties gears up for continued growth and success – with more work than we’ve ever had in the pipeline – my focus will always be on building quality homes that our customers are excited to move into, working with my fellow directors to move us forward.

"I’ve worked from the bottom up in this business, so I understand the whole build process and have intricate knowledge and insight into how all the departments within the company work.

"That’s fundamentally why I’m able to take our business forward into a new era, alongside an incredibly talented and hardworking team.

"We will continue to invest wisely in places where we believe we can make a real difference."

In his chairman role, Mr Verity will advise on the buying of new land and oversee financial matters.

His youngest daughter Caroline Verity also works within the senior management team, as sales, marketing and design director.