People on the Move: CLB Coopers; CPL Training; Legat Owen; Thin Cats; Grant Thornton

From left: Lindsey Shepherd, Nick Donohue, Alex Kelly and Mark Worsley

North West accountancy and advisory firm CLB Coopers, which is part of the Baldwins Group, has appointed a new director to its audit and assurance team.

Alex Kelly, who has experience in leading and managing services for owner-managed businesses, joins the firm’s Bolton office from Grant Thornton.

The appointment reflects the continued investment in the firm’s Bolton office.

Alex joins the existing management team, which includes Mark Worsley, Nick Donohue and Lindsey Shepherd, to focus on delivering CLB Coopers’ continued growth, as well as promoting its specialist offerings to the business community in the local market.

David Travis, managing director at CLB Coopers, said: “Alex is an excellent addition to our existing team and I am sure he will quickly become a key driver in the Bolton business community.

“The office’s senior team is now firmly in place for the future and, as well as continuing to work closely with our clients, will support our ongoing growth plans, both locally and across the wider North West region.”

He added: “This is an exciting time for the firm. With the possibility of further acquisitions by the Baldwins Group across the region, it will mean we are able to offer even greater opportunities to our clients through access to a range of specialist services and, to our employees, as we add to our teams to meet demand and attract talent of Alex’s calibre and experience.”

Speaking of his appointment, Alex said: “This is an exciting time to be joining the group and the opportunity to use my skills and experience to support the local and regional growth plans was really persuasive.

“I am looking forward to getting to know our clients and supporting them to meet their aspirations.”

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Birkenhead-based CPL Training, a specialist in the delivery of hospitality-based training and development, has announced Louise Sui as the company’s managing director.

Sui was previously commercial director and has taken up the new role with immediate effect.

Following the sale of its software division, CPL Online, the board of directors has appointed Sui to lead CPL Training to the next stage of development, where she will oversee the introduction of new training and business ventures.

She joined CPL in 2011 and has delivered expansive growth across the business, including the market share for personal licence training, which increased by 75% in the past five years.

Commenting on her new appointment, Sui said: “It’s an exciting time to take the lead at CPL Training. We are going back to our roots by concentrating on face-to-face training.

“Going forward, our aim is to branch out into new markets, but our priority will always lie within the hospitality industry.”

Daniel Davies, chief executive of CPL Training Group, said: “Since Louise joined the business seven years ago she has been instrumental in growing our footprint and securing new business.

“Louise is passionate about what we do, and it’s only right that she is the person to take us to the next level. We are in a great position to achieve our objectives, and I look forward to what the future brings.”

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Legat Owen has appointed a new chartered surveyor to bolster its 38-strong team.

Sandy Ratcliffe joins the Chester-based commercial property consultancy from Matthews and Goodman, in Liverpool, where he began his career as a graduate surveyor in 2015.

During his time there he gained experience in various departments including valuation, rating, management and agency and qualified as a RICS chartered surveyor last October.

In his new role he will work alongside director James Lutton in the retail agency team as well as assist Mark Eastwood who heads up property valuation.

Sandy Ratcliffe

Mr Ratcliffe, said: “After becoming chartered, I was keen to take on a new challenge which is why I chose to join Legat Owen.

“It has such a strong reputation among surveyors in the North West and the opportunity to work for an award-winning company was too much for me to turn down. I’m really looking forward to joining the team and working with them to push the business forward in the years to come.”

James Lutton, director at Legat Owen, said: “It’s great to welcome Sandy as he is incredibly focussed and already has some good experience under his belt.

“We are always looking at ways to recruit new talent and strengthen our team and the skills he brings will be a real asset to the business.”

Headquartered in Chester and with an office in Nantwich, Legat Owen covers the whole of the UK, with a focus on North Wales and Cheshire.

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ThinCats, the alternative funding specialist, has announced a senior hire to cover the North West region.

Richard Lamb joins ThinCats to lead new business origination throughout the North West, after nearly a decade as relationship director at NatWest, and having been in corporate banking since 1992.

He joins the company’s growing team of experienced bankers who have turned to specialising in alternative finance.

Richard’s brief at ThinCats is to support the structuring of lending facilities for growing and ambitious SMEs across the region.

He will specialise in senior secured loans from £100k-£10m for funding growth, acquisitions, refinancing and restructuring of debt.

Damon Walford, chief development officer at ThinCats, said: “We’re extremely pleased to have Richard on board.

“He joins us after three decades of being embedded in the North West SME economy, giving meaningful advice and helping business owners make informed decisions to improve company performance and support growth.

“He is able to draw on vast experience in supporting SMEs with management buy-outs and buy-ins, alongside growth funding and turnaround situations to help businesses return to financial health.”

Richard added: “I have spent my career working with SME businesses. With the changing landscape seen in the UK funding markets over the last 10 years there is an increasing need for borrowers to have access to alternative sources of finance to those traditionally provided by the banks.”

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Grant Thornton says it has lived up to its ethos of nurturing talent with a series of promotions at the business advisory group.

The firm has made 12 promotions to its audit team working across its North West offices in Liverpool and Manchester.

The announcement is led by the promotion of Jennifer Woods to associate director, a role that comes with the regulatory authority to sign-off audits.

She has 13 years’ experience in financial reporting, having joined the firm in 2005 and has been based in the North West throughout her career.

Grant Thornton’s North West audit management team has also been expanded with the promotions of Jen Ryan, Rebecca Thompson and Hayley Molloy.

In addition, associates Vicki Garlick, Eleanor Vickers, Seamus Fricker, Adam Hooson, Rachael Barlow, Jenny Elgar, Rebecca Myers and Lizzie Walker have been promoted to executives.

Mick Frankish, head of Grant Thornton’s audit practice in the North West, said: “I’m very proud of these promotions.

“It’s very satisfying to see professional development in action and the firm’s continued investment in our people as we continue to service our growing NW client base.

“The firm as a whole has won a number of awards for social mobility and as one of the best places to work.

“We recognise that developing skills and nurturing talent are key to our own future and as well as those businesses and organisations that we work with in the wider economy.”

Back, from left: Rebecca Tomson, Jenny Elgar. Front, from left: Jennifer Woods, Mick Frankish, Vicki Garlick

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