People: Fieldfisher strengthens asbestos claims practice in Manchester; LEP welcomes new board members; and more

Bridget Collier has been appointed by law firm Fieldfisher to head up the mesothelioma and asbestos team in Manchester.

Collier has conducted asbestos, industrial disease and accident at work claims for the past 20 years.

She joins from GLP solicitors and was previously at Slater & Gordon, and has been a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers executive committee for the past five years and has specialist accreditation in asbestos claims.

The Fieldfisher Manchester office, headed up by managing partner Ian Austin, now employs almost 100 staff.

Austin said: “Bridget is a valuable addition to the Manchester office at the Freetrade Exchange on Peter Street.

“She brings a huge amount of knowledge and will only strengthen the mesothelioma and asbestos claims practice which operates across our region.

“The appointment comes at an important time for us, as we continue to grow our headcount and widen our offer and expertise to a raft of clients.”

:::

Nigel Wilkinson

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, the county’s strategic economic body, has appointed two private sector board members with track records of leadership in the tourism and manufacturing sectors.

Nigel Wilkinson, the managing director of Windermere Lake Cruises and John Coughlan, the managing director of Workington based TSP Engineering, have joined the board.

George Beveridge, chair of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, says: “Following an open recruitment process and consultation with our private sector advisory panel, we are pleased to welcome John and Nigel to the LEP board.

“Nigel has been involved in the county’s Visitor Economy sub group and development of the associated sector growth plan, until recently he was a director of Cumbria Tourism, and he chairs the Lake District National Park Partnership’s Business Task Force.

“John has a long background in manufacturing and has worked successfully to secure the future of the former Corus facility in Workington as well as supporting Cumbria LEP with advanced manufacturing development.

“They both bring valuable expertise and experience to the role and will be strong additions to the board team.”

:::

Rebecca Eatwell

Newgate Communications has promoted Rebecca Eatwell, based in the Manchester office, to become managing partner and head of the Newgate Engage practice.

She succeeds Andy Martin, who is leaving the company.

Newgate Engage was founded when local stakeholder engagement and regional PR firm PPS Group rebranded and completed its merger with Newgate at the beginning of April.

Eatwell is an experienced and long-standing member of the Engage team, having joined PPS in 2007 after a stint in the Government Office for the North West and in the Equal Opportunities Commission.

When Engage was launched Newgate announced that it would invest in its regional offices, including Manchester, to allow it to offer the full suite of corporate communications services, including crisis and issues management, corporate reputation, public affairs and financial PR.

Eatwell said: “Being asked to lead the Newgate Engage team is a massive privilege, and I am relishing the challenge ahead. Our regional network is one of our biggest strengths. We have people on the ground who really understand and can talk to local stakeholders, customers and the media.

“We have a strong track record in the North West and I want to build on this. It’s exciting times for the region and we’re working closely with public and private sector clients to deliver some really interesting projects.”

The Newgate Manchester team delivers work for clients across the residential, commercial, energy and infrastructure sectors. Clients include the Peel Group, Capital & Centric, Taylor Wimpey, National Grid and HIMOR.

:::

MC Construction has recruited a director to head a new facilities services division which will carry out maintenance and refurbishment works for new and existing clients.

Russ Forshaw has joined the Salford-based firm from Manchester Central.

He was director of facilities management at the convention complex, where his role involved being in charge of building maintenance and development, security and health and safety.

Before joining Manchester Central in 2011, he spent eight years at Shepherd Construction.

His new role at the helm of MC Facilities Services sees him join the family-owned company’s board.

The division will focus on expanding MC Construction’s minor works activities and on developing a facilities management service to provide a one-stop shop to clients.

It will also offer insurance reinstatement and fire remedial works, maintenance of canals and other waterways and testing and inspection services.

The division has been launched with eight staff and six more roles are expected to be created over the next 12 months.

David Lowe, managing director of MC Construction, said: “The creation of
MC Facilities Services is an exciting and innovative development which complements our existing construction and development divisions.

“It will enable us to meet demand from clients and to become a one-stop shop for their needs. We also see an opportunity for growth due to the large number of new buildings and infrastructure investment in and around Greater Manchester.

“We are delighted that Russ has joined the business to head MC Facilities Services. He has an excellent track record in construction and facilities management, and is ideally-suited to this new role.”