A round-up of appointments and promotions within the East Midlands:
Digital marketing agency Hallam
Nottingham digital marketing agency Hallam has welcomed two new company directors to the board after they acquired minority shareholdings.
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Managing director Jake Third and strategy director Ben Wood have acquired shares in the business, joining CEO Julio Taylor and technical director Jon Martin as majority shareholders.
Founded in 1999 by Susan Hallam, Hallam now has 50 members of staff providing services such as SEO, web development and digital strategy.
As part of a recent management restructure, Susan and current financial director Mike Hallam will retire from the firm at the end of the year, while still retaining a shareholding.
Julio Taylor said: “We are pleased to welcome Jake and Ben as new shareholder directors to the Hallam board, both have been integral figures within the business for a number of years now and contributed immensely to our ongoing success – particularly this year, which has seen our agency overcome its toughest challenges in its 20-year history.
James Bagley, managing partner at Smith Cooper led the deal, and Duncan Taylor from Nelsons Law and Martin Hall from Cleggs Solicitors provided legal advice on the transaction.
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Blueprint Interiors
Workplace consultants and interior fit-out specialist Blueprint Interiors has appointed Hannah Chambers as its new technical designer and Nick Cupit as bid manager.
In total the business, based in Ashby, Leicestershire, wants to hire four new people as the it responds to demand from businesses keen to create more agile and inspiring workspaces, which provide a safe return to their offices post-lockdown.
Hannah will bridge the gap between design and construction by creating detailed technical drawing packs.
Nick will oversee the pre-contracts side of projects to ensure that best value is achieved for clients and that supplier relationships are strengthened.
Hannah is a qualified interior architect and designer with a degree from The University of Portsmouth and has a keen interest in countryside photography having grown up on a farm.
Nick, who is a self-confessed petrol head, enjoys playing golf, and mountain biking, and has recently gained a qualification in leadership and management.
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Hannah said she was drawn to the business from her very first visit.
She said: “I could see how passionate the Blueprint team is about designing great places to work and that employee wellbeing is clearly at the forefront of their design ethos.”
Catena Network
A networking matchmaking service for businesses has appointed as director of its
Andy Middleton has taken over the expanded Nottingham territory of the Catena Network – a matchmaking service for businesses.
Having acquired the Catena Network franchise, he will focus expanding it across Nottinghamshire, freeing up founder Claire Bicknell to focus on growing the franchise network across the 海角视频.
Andy previously worked in the print industry, having set up Ginger Root Creative Agency and Print House and will be harnessing his marketing and sales skills as part of his new role with Catena and his own new business, AMSN, which helps businesses increase their brand awareness through sales lead generation.
He said: ‘‘Right now, networking is facing its own challenges with the postponement of physical meetings and the rise of the online model but that is something Catena has totally embraced.
“When it is done right, networking is about making genuine connections and forging alliances, not simply swapping business cards (virtual or not).
“It is a strategic part of the sales and marketing strategy and that is what we aim to do with Catena.”
Barratt Developments
Barratt Developments has appointed Katie Bickerstaffe and Chris Weston as independent non-executive directors.
They will join the 海角视频’s biggest housebuilder – based in Coalville, Leicestershire – in March, next year.
Ms Bickerstaffe was recently appointed chief strategy and transformation director at Marks and Spencer, having previously held a non-executive directorship on its board since 2018.
She was also executive chair of SSE Energy Services, where she led its separation from SSE Plc and subsequent sale to OVO Group.
She was a non-executive director at SSE Plc from 2011 to 2018 and is also a non-executive director of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Chris Weston is chief executive at generator rental company Aggreko Plc, a position he has held since 2015. He has held managerial roles at Centrica, Cable & Wireless Plc and One.Tel, and is a non-executive director of the Royal Navy, a position that he is due to step down from in February.
Barratt chairman John Allan said: “They each bring a wealth of different skills and experience, which complement those of the other board members and will be of great value to the company over the coming years”.
The Bardon Group
Nigel Toplis, managing director of franchise specialist The Bardon Group has stepped down from day-to-day running of its corporate merchandise business Recognition Express and its IT cleaning services company Techclean.
He has handed the baton to former operations director Chris Masters who takes over as MD of Recognition Express and Techclean.
After 18 years in charge, Toplis has taken the position of non-executive director of The Bardon Group, which is based in north west Leicestershire.
Mr Masters will help drive the next phase of growth, enabling Mr Toplis to focus on the strategic development of all four brands in the Bardon Group stable of franchises – Kall Kwik, Recognition Express, Techclean and ComputerXplorers.
He will also continue as managing director of Kall Kwik and ComputerXplorers.
Laurence Bagley remains a senior presence on the board as finance director.
Mr Toplis said: “I’m not talking full retirement yet as I feel I have many more years of leadership in me, but robust succession planning is perhaps one of the most important aspects a successful business must address.
“We’ve been planning my transition from MD to chairman for some time and from very early on in his career at Recognition Express it was obvious that Chris Masters possessed the aptitude be ‘heir apparent’.
“As many people know I spend several months each year in South Africa and have developed a great love for the country, its people and wildlife.
“I’m ready for a new challenge and want to spend more time over there supporting small developing business in South Africa and working to protect elephants and rhinos on the continent.”
The Bardon Group employs a 10-strong team at its head office to support its 海角视频-wide network of franchisees.
Wells McFarlane
Abigail Wood has returned to Lutterworth property consultant and chartered surveyor Wells McFarlane as head of accounts after becoming a fully qualified chartered accountant.
She will have full responsibility for the entire accounts function, from managing company, client and tenant accounts to invoicing, forecasting and budgeting.
Also supporting the business is freelance PR consultant, Natalie Keene, who recently launched Leicestershire-based Roar PR.
Natalie has been appointed to raise Wells McFarlane’s profile across the East and West Midlands through targeted PR, awards, social media and website content.
She will work alongside the firm’s three directors to share deals and industry news, company achievements and charity support.
Abi said: “I’m so pleased to re-join the Wells McFarlane team and see how the business has grown in the past seven years.
“The timing was right for me to start a new challenge and this role will certainly provide that, with multiple client and tenant accounts to deal with on a daily basis but that’s the interaction I enjoy.”
Director Andrew McFarlane Holt said: “Abi and Natalie are familiar faces to the team, both having worked with us previously, so we know they have the right combination of skills, imagination and enthusiasm to help us achieve further growth.”
Wheeldon Homes
Derby-based Wheeldon Homes has brought in Joe Beardsley, 17, as an apprentice bricklayer.
Joe is taking his diplomas in bricklaying and trowel occupations at Derby College of Further Education, as well as an NVQ in construction, after which he will be looking forward to starting a full-time career in the industry.
He is currently working as an apprentice on The Dial, in Spondon and said: “I’m really happy to have this opportunity particularly at this difficult time with the Coronavirus.”
Andrew Startin, Wheeldon’s production director, said: “Nobody can deny how difficult life is at this time, particularly for school leavers finding work.
“It is so important for the future that we find ways to train and help people find work.
“Our industry and the country’s economy will rest on their shoulders in the years ahead.”
Peveril Homes
Derbyshire-based housebuilder Peveril Homes is bidding farewell to one of its longest serving employees after construction director Colin Wright announced his retirement after 45 years in the industry.
Mr Wright joined Peveril in 1987, following spells in construction at Thomas Fish, Vic Hallam and H Hunt & Sons.
He has had a range of positions at Peveril, and his “strong work ethic and likable approach” saw him work his way up, eventually becoming director for construction.
Mr Wright, who will officially retire at the end of 2020, said: “I joined Peveril because the business had already made a name for itself for its quality – becoming known as a developer that cared about its purchasers.
“It felt like the right move for me and it must have been because 33 years later, it’s where I’m signing off my career,”
The crowning glory to his career was taking the chairman’s award at this year’s East Midlands LABC Building Excellence Awards.
James Smith, director of Peveril Homes, which is based in Belper, said: “It’s been an honour and a pleasure to work alongside Colin and he will be missed.
“His professionalism, commitment and warm and friendly personality is something you can’t teach and he has left a truly brilliant legacy behind him both here and across the industry.”