People on the move: Studio KMA; Sigma; Country Gates and Barriers; Armstrong Craven; Horwich Farrelly

Oldham-based architect Studio KMA has recruited two new staff members to support recent growth and demand from existing and new clients for an extended construction delivery service (Stuart Hadfield) and enhanced residential expertise (Amy Hamilton).

Studio KMA was established in 2012 with the objective of reducing the risk to landowners, developers and clients by supporting the front-end design process in order to secure planning consent.

Studio KMA has recruited Stuart Hadfield as director in response to client demand for a full delivery/build out service for projects.

Stuart joins the team from a leading tier one contractor in Manchester and previously held an Associate position for 17 years with an award-winning architectural practice.

Amy Hamilton has also joined the team as architectural assistant from Oldham-based Nicol Thomas where she’d been in post since 2013 and will be receiving support towards her final architectural qualification.

Amy’s experience has focused on the residential sector and she will be supporting Richard Hamill on a number of existing and new commissions including high rise apartment schemes, large private dwellings, later-life living accommodation, care homes and sheltered housing projects.

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Digital user experience (UX) agency, Sigma, has appointed a new board chair to help oversee growth following a series of new client wins.

Lars Kry takes up the position as part of a strategic governance restructure to replace previous chair Thomas Hallberg.

Currently, Lars is CEO for Sigma’s Swedish parent company, Sigma IT Consulting, and will retain this role while also advising the UK team on ways to maintain growth.

Sigma UK is on track for continued growth throughout 2018, with expected sales of £4m. Now a 30-strong team, with offices in Macclesfield and Cambridge, the company has recently secured a number of new client wins – notably a major new contract with the British Safety Council (BSC), which specialises in safety within the workplace.

Hilary Stephenson, managing director of Sigma UK, said: “We’re confident that Lars will be a fantastic asset as part of this growth strategy and very much look forward to seeing what he brings to the business.”

Lars Kry said: “I see a great potential in our offerings and customer base.”

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Specialist perimeter protection company Country Gates and Barriers has appointed a new business development manager to spearhead its ambitious expansion plans.

The Stockport-based business has invested £100,000 in a new showroom at its Bredbury base, where it is showcasing a new range of products from premium French gates brand Horizal.

As well as its own expansion plans, Country Gates and Barriers has signed an exclusive deal to become the only distributor for the brand in the UK and Ireland.

This is expected to accelerate its growth, and new business development manager Darren Weatherill will be instrumental in putting these plans into action.

Darren, from Burnley, has a wealth of experience in business development, business planning and sales management.

He said: “I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. Country Gates and Barriers is a well respected, family-run business that employs skilled craftsmen, and I am proud to be working for them.”

Managing director Nick Corbett said: “With this new European deal pushing the business forward it is a crucial time for us, and I know Darren will be able to maximise the success of the brand.”

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Manchester headquartered global talent mapping and pipelining specialist Armstrong Craven has recruited a new client partner to its consumer and industrial team.

Catherine Neville

Catherine Neville brings with her almost 20 years’ experience having held a number of senior management and director level roles.

She has a strong background in providing talent solutions across a range of sectors including aerospace, defence, nuclear and utilities.

Catherine said: “The approach Armstrong Craven takes is innovative and very different to others. It is a lot more strategic, working in partnership and adding significant value to our clients.

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Leading specialist insurance industry law firm, Horwich Farrelly, has offered full-time contracts to six former trainee solicitors following their successful qualification.

All were admitted to the Law Society’s Roll of Solicitors on Apilr 3, having started their 18-month training contract with the firm in autumn 2016.

Hassan Atti, Joanne Johnson, Sarah Jones, Emily Mountshaw and Sarah Potter are based at the firm’s Manchester headquarters, and Caroline Rand is based in the Liverpool office.

The appointments represent the breadth of services offered by the firm with two each working within counter fraud and motor & casualty, and one each in credit hire and costs.

Ronan McCann, partner, said: “At Horwich Farrelly we have a commitment to nurturing home-grown talent, which includes a policy to only offer training contracts to existing employees.

“Once again we have been hugely impressed with the talent displayed by those offered contracts and are delighted to have been able to retain all six of our newly qualified solicitors.”