People on the move: NatWest; Mitchell Charlesworth; WHN Solicitors; Patrick Parsons

NatWest has appointed Shaun Thomas to the role of business development manager, real estate finance.

He will be support customers across the North West in achieving their business aspirations through efficient and completive lending for residential developments, residential investments, and commercial investments up to £2m.

Thomas will also be building a network of professionals, brokers and developers supporting the roll-out of NatWest’s rapid loan lending system – a new automated lending process for commercial real estate developers and investors who are looking to borrow up to £2m which will give them a credit-approved decision in as little as 45 minutes.

The new process covers all new applications for customers who want to borrow up to £2m for commercial and residential investment, and residential development.

Thomas has previously worked as client service manager for NatWest and sister bank the Royal Bank of Scotland.

This included analysing what these clients did and then suggesting ways in which they can reduce cost and increase balance sheet growth, saving client’s in excess of £1m per annum. He has also worked for NatWest’s asset finance partner Lombard, and has vast experience of managing relationships with corporate and commercial clients in the professional arena.
He has served in the Royal Marines and has a strong affiliation with the Armed Services.

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Accountancy firm Mitchell Charlesworth has made two senior promotions in its Widnes and Warrington offices.

Newly-promoted to audit and accounts assistant manager in the Widnes office is Mike Faragher, who joined Mitchell Charlesworth in 2008.

Faragher, who lives in Runcorn, provides audit and accounts services to a mixed portfolio of clients, ranging from sole traders and partnerships to SMEs.

His new role will bring additional responsibilities including business development and staff training.

Chris Nanson, who works in the Warrington office, has also been promoted to audit and accounts assistant manager after three years’ service. Nanson, who lives in Widnes, has an accounts and financial management degree from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification in 2011.

Nanson manages a wide range of audits and accounts within the Warrington office portfolio, including a variety of charities and owner managed companies.

Mitchell Charlesworth Widnes and Warrington partner Lorraine Whittaker, said: “We are pleased to reward the hard work and dedication consistently demonstrated by Mike and Chris to our business and clients. Both promotions demonstrate our continued commitment to support and invest in our people and expertise which enables us as a firm to offer the highest quality of service to our clients at all times.”

Fellow Widnes and Warrington partner Rob Davies added: “The strength of our business lies with our talented people and the long term relationships they build with our clients and it is vital that we continue to support and invest in them in order to meet our clients’ growth aspirations.”

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Lancashire-based law firm WHN Solicitors has appointed four women lawyers in key positions as part of its strategic growth programme.

Louise Desoer, Justine Harris, Carolyn Ford and Racheal Jordan have taken up new roles across WHN’s Bury and Haslingden offices.

Desoer has been appointed as a conveyancing legal executive, Harris joins as a commercial paralegal, while Ford and Jordan have both been promoted to the role of paralegal.

Michael Shroot, partner at WHN Solicitors, said: “I am delighted to see Louise, Justine, Carolyn and Racheal take up pivotal roles across our firm and I am confident they will continue to impress our clients.

“At WHN we’re committed to growing our team internally as well as bringing in people with the skills and experience we need to drive expansion and further strengthen the services that we offer. These are exciting times and I am sure Louise, Justine, Carolyn and Racheal will enjoy great success in their new roles.”

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Consulting engineers Patrick Parsons has strengthened its management team with the appointment of a new director.

The multidisciplinary firm, which has eight UK-based and two international offices, has appointed Hossein Beheshty to its Manchester office.

Hossein has worked for a number of leading consultancies prior to joining Patrick Parsons, including WYG where he spent the last two years as UK head of building services engineering, delivering major projects both within and outside the UK.

Hossein said: “I joined Patrick Parson because of the company’s strong ambition to expand while at the same time providing quality service to their clients.”

“The decision to join the firm was made all the easier with the offering of exciting current and future projects, together with opportunities that would arise from sitting within the Parsons Group.”

With over 30 years’ experience, Hossein will develop the long-term growth of Patrick Parsons’ Manchester office, as well as helping the firm to build links further afield in London and Birmingham.

Director of Patrick Parsons, Doug Tidswell, said: “We have no doubt that Hossein’s wealth of commercial acumen and extensive links within the industry will facilitate Patrick Parsons growth not only in the North West but also across the West Midlands and the South. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team.”