Purpose Media:
Business development and sales professional Grace Golden has joined Derbyshire based web development, creative and digital marketing agency Purpose Media in newly created role as head of client growth.
Grace has eight years’ experience in sales and marketing roles and joins the company having previously worked at Motorpoint Derby, Champions 海角视频, and Status Social.
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She said: “Purpose Media has always been well-known as a professional agency.
"Their values and culture shine through and I admire the work that has already been done to create a great infrastructure for bringing clients on board.
"The company is renowned for ‘telling it as it is’ and it is clear that their clients respect this honest and advice driven approach which has obviously been successful at retaining clients and staff over the last 12 months.
"I am really excited to join the team and I look forward to bringing clients on board who want a tangible return on investment from their marketing.”
Purpose Media managing director Matt Wheatcroft said: “Grace will be working with new and existing clients to diagnose and solve business challenges, maximise opportunities and provide a solution that adds long-term value and growth.
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“She has some great experience which will enhance the sales team and improve our sales processes so that are able to identify and win more new business opportunities.”
EE Smith Contracts:
A newcomer to a leading specialist interior fit-out contractor says more women should consider a career in construction.
Bianca Guthrie joined EE Smith Contracts, based on Leicester’s Clarendon Industrial Estate, after being involved in a Women into Construction event held with West London College and the Mayor’s Construction Academy West London.
The virtual session for a wide range of businesses in the construction sector gave women the opportunity to showcase their talents to future employers.
Bianca, from Hackney in London, was among those who took part and following a successful two-week placement, has secured a permanent position as a document controller on EE Smith’s contract to help create a luxury new hotel, The Peninsula London which overlooks Hyde Park Corner in the capital.
The 32-year-old previously worked as an electrical engineer and as a project planner for leisure centre and education facilities.
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She said more women should think about a career in the construction sector due to the variety of roles that are available.
She said: “I have always been a practical person and I’m familiar with the work of Women into Construction which is why I joined the event.
“It is a great scheme because it gives you an opportunity to hear about positions you wouldn’t necessarily find out about and it is like a match-making session since you list three companies you would like to join for a two-week placement and employers name their three preferred candidates.
“It is a confidence booster when you are matched with each other and even with Covid restrictions, it was good to get on site at The Peninsula.
“Being in document control, I’m overseeing all the administration work, proof-reading and cross-referencing which, with a project of this size and value is really important.
“My role also involves health and safety which means I have overall control of all the documentation for the project.
“I can also progress and join the design, building information modelling, sustainability, health and safety, and project, site and contract management teams together.
“Everyone at EE Smith Contracts has made me feel welcome and I would definitely encourage more women to consider a career in construction.
EE Smith Contracts has worked prestigious international hotels in London including The Londoner, the Grosvenor House, The Langham and The Savoy.
Mather Jamie:
Loughborough-based land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie has promoted Lydia Tatar to commercial management surveyor.
The company appointed four new directors in February to coincide with its 30th anniversary, and the latest promotion, which also involves a change in departments, means the firm will be recruiting another surveyor to carry out Lydia’s previous role as a commercial agency surveyor.
She said, “I am really pleased to have been promoted and offered the opportunity to use my expertise to help our clients improve the quality and value of assets within their property portfolio through rent reviews, lease renewals and building improvement work.
“Whilst property management is a different challenge, Mather Jamie is a great company to work for and I know that I will get support from the Director team to ensure clients receive the very best property management service.”
Having worked previously in Nottingham, Lydia both public and private sector experience, and joined Mather Jamie’s commercial property team in April 2020.
She is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University where she gained a first in property finance and investment.
She qualified as MRICS in November 2018 and is currently studying to become a RICS Registered valuer to enable her to carry out ‘Red Book’ valuations.
Octavian:
Nottingham-based IT, cyber security and disaster recovery specialist Octavian has appointed a new Armed Forces champion.
Leon Findlay has been appointed to the role, after making the transition from an Army career to joining Octavian and rising to the level of contract manager.
Leon left the Army in 2003 after an injury, having served as a Corporal in the Queen’s Royal Lancers, a cavalry regiment.
After running his own business, which did not help his injury, Leon joined Octavian in 2008.
He rose through the security ranks, becoming first a site supervisor and onto a contract manager.
Leon said: “I understand the journey and challenges of moving from the forces to civilian life and work and decided to have a career within the security industry.
“I wanted to work where my skills were valued, and where there was an open career path and my journey evidenced the commitment Octavian has towards forces personnel.
“I am delighted to be able to take on the role as Armed Forces champion and support others, whether from within the company or those seeking to join.”
He is now the “go-to” person for any staff seeking advice on a range of matters, and he supports and works with HR to bring veterans, reservists and forces families into the company and assists them on their career path.
Octavian managing director Reshma Sheikh said: “Part of the Armed Forces Covenant pledges to seek the employment of Veterans and Reservists, and we are proud to work with the Career Transition Partnership.
“Leon demonstrates through his career journey what can be achieved, and he remains loyal to his forces career.”
Opus Trust:
Opus Trust Communications, a Leicester-based communications specialist, has appointed former Royal Mail senior manager Danijel Karadza as head of customer relationships and development.
Bringing 15 years of experience in senior client management, strategy development and sales generation, Danijel will use his experience to build client relationships at senior level, enabling Opus to support their digital ambitions.
Danijel is joining at an exciting time for the company which, despite the challenges of operating in a pandemic, has enjoyed a transformational 12 months with £4 million of inward investment to support its digital growth plans.
Danijel said: “Joining a forward-thinking organisation that embraces change, adopts new technologies and strives to deliver operational excellence is extremely exciting for me.
“Having worked across key industry sectors for over a decade, I’ve seen first-hand just how valuable an agile and adaptable approach can be, especially when operating in such a fast-paced and competitive marketplace.
“I am looking forward to calling upon my own expertise to strengthen the passion and commitment Opus Trust already shows to its clients and their customers.
“I strongly believe that collaboration is the key to success, and this will form a key part of my role in helping Opus Trust continue to be the partner of choice in critical communications.”
Page Kirk:
Nottingham-based accountancy practice Page Kirk has appointed two new partners.
The firm, based in Gregory Boulevard, has announced that Jack Moore, 29, and James Haywood, 30, will be joining the top team – meaning that partners now range in age from their 20s through to their 60s.
The latest move is in recognition of the two accountants’ commercial awareness and leadership skills, which have come into particular focus during the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
James Haywood makes history for the firm, being the first partner to have taken part in the firm’s placement scheme in 2011 and graduate scheme in 2013.
Shortly after qualifying as a chartered accountant in 2017 he was given the opportunity to spend three months working with a partner accounting firm in Boston, US, as part of the Page Kirk exchange programme with CPAmerica.
He was promoted to assistant manager following his return, then to manager in 2020.
During his time at Page Kirk, James has successfully developed a niche within the firm, specialising in the accounts and audits for the charity and not-for-profit sector, alongside his work with the firm’s other business clients.
His in-depth knowledge of this industry combined with strong commercial awareness, and consistent support for the less experienced members of staff has helped bring the firm forward – both in terms of skills and in new business opportunities.
Jack Moore has more than 10 years’ experience in practice, completing his AAT exams in 2012 and then qualifying as a chartered accountant in 2014.
Since his promotion from assistant manager to cloud accounting manager last year, he has continued his hard work in progressing the firm, both strategically and technically – helping to implement industry-changing technologies, preparing Page Kirk and its clients for the future.
He has been promoted from manager to partner at the firm.
He said: “Being invited to join the Page Kirk partnership is an incredibly proud moment for me.
“To be involved at this level, with such a genuinely forward-thinking firm, is exciting and I look forward to contributing to the growth and development of Page Kirk over the coming years.”
The Access Group:
A new legal software division at the Loughborough-headquartered Access Group has appointed a head of product at its Access Legal division.
Lauren Colbeck joins the team directly from Peppermint Technology, where she spent three years as head of product management for the legal sector.
Previously, Lauren spent over a decade in product management at Experian.
In her new role, Lauren will use her understanding of legal firms to help the product development team deliver better technology to the legal sector, and lead future innovation.
Access Legal officially launched at the start of April with a customer base of 3,500 legal practices, accounting for a third of the 海角视频 legal market.
Lauren said: “It was quickly evident to me that the team at Access Legal has a clear vision and is committed to deliver best-in-class software that makes a genuine difference to its users so they can in turn deliver a better client experience and improve the profitability of their firm.
“It has to be remembered that legal firms are businesses that want to grow, offer outstanding service, look after their people and attract the very best talent just like any other company.
“So, while legal case and practice management solutions are vital, it’s equally as important to help them run their wider business, through people management, financial solutions, payments technology and CRM.”
Firms already using Access Legal software solutions include Eversheds, Minster Law, Winn Solicitors, Wolferstans, Neves Solicitors LLP and The MAPD Group.