People on the Move: Broadstone; Glendale; Auger; BDO
Headhunted from Silicon Valley, Noelle Batema joins the Manchester scale-up technology company, Broadstone, as community engagement manager, while Jacqui Bland from LADBible in Manchester, has been recruited as senior software engineer.
Broadstone is a staffing platform that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to match job-seekers with work opportunities at some of the UK’s largest employers.
The service provides background checks and captures accurate data upfront to verify details, reducing lead times from 12 weeks to just 15 days. Broadstone is expanding, moving from start-up to scale-up in just over 12 months.
Having been headhunted by Broadstone, native San Franciscan Noelle has made the permanent move to Manchester following several years in Silicon Valley working with start-ups such as Deliv and iCracked.
She has successfully grown communities for tech businesses in the USA and will now be responsible for the full lifecycle of building and supporting Broadstone’s communities.
She will also devise, develop and launch strategies for audience engagement, gamification and attracting new members.
She said: “This role stood out to me as an amazing opportunity to bring my experience in community engagement and build customer-focused solutions for an innovative start-up in Manchester.
“Manchester is a hub of tech talent and I believe Broadstone will disrupt the existing methods of staffing in industries such as recruitment and revolutionise the way both job-seekers and employers view recruitment. I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Jacqui Bland will join Broadstone’s development team, introducing new agile processes to the business, creating unit tests and planning product roadmaps, as well as ensuring a smooth and efficient user experience.
She said: “I really wanted to be part of a company that provides a valuable service and with the app already successfully filling positions for large UK security companies, it’s a very exciting time to join.”
Broadstone founder and director, Tom Pickersgill, said: “We have ambitious expansion plans to move our technology into other sectors, aside from security, so Noelle and Jacqui will certainly be key to our success and support us as we enter the next stage in our growth and beyond.”
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National green services supplier Glendale has boosted its management team with the appointment of Daniel Watson.
In his new role of contract manager he will be responsible for overseeing various contracts within the Chorley-based company’s portfolio in the North West, managing the day-to-day service operations and the supervision of staff.
He will also be involved in exploring new opportunities to help Glendale achieve growth.
Daniel Watson
Prior to joining Glendale, Mr Watson, from Bolton, was the business development manager at Nurture Landscapes, and also the director of his own landscaping business for four years.
He has more than 24 years’ experience in the green services industry, an NVQ Horticulture and a National Certificate in groundsman and greenkeeping.
Mike Brunskill, managing director for the North at Glendale, said: “Daniel has a vast amount of industry experience, making him the perfect person for this role and a fantastic addition to the team.”
Mr Watson added: “Working within this industry is extremely rewarding, and no two days are ever the same. I am looking forward to becoming a part of the team and using my experience to make a positive contribution to Glendale.”
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Insurance industry specialist Auger has employed two new IT developers as the company continues to expand its technology services.
Luke Varley, junior developer, and Jake Walker, apprentice developer, join the Auger team in Wallasey, Wirral, to focus on a range of internal and external projects. These will include meeting the demands of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
Auger currently operates its own bespoke IT software, Clarity Suite, which helps supply customers with information and transparency, helps the insurer with processes and speeds up the insurance process for all involved.
Jake is the first apprentice to be appointed under the Auger Academy, established last year to improve the skills of its workforce and formalise its training processes.
Jake Walker
Neil Wilks, head of technology and finance at Auger, said: “Luke and Jake join Auger at an exciting time as we continue to expand.
“Their knowledge and skills will allow us to continue developing market-leading software technology to benefit our clients, customers and workforce.
“At Auger we recognise the significant benefits that emerging tech can bring to our business and by adopting machine learning and AI to complement our class-leading customer service, we can stay ahead of the curve.”
Auger has appointed more than 30 new employees, including both office and site-based staff, over the past 12 months as part of its expansion, and continues to grow its team with new positions being announced throughout 2018.
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Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has welcomed Helen Knowles as audit director within the firm’s North West Business Assurance team.
She joins BDO from KPMG where she was a senior manager specialising in public sector audit and, as a performance leader, also managed the firm’s public sector business across the North from an internal perspective.
In her new role, based in Manchester, Helen will support in further building the firm’s audit team, with a focus on external audit work within the not for profit sector – a core strength within the North West, particularly within social housing, education and the charity sectors.
The team works with clients such as Great Places Housing Group and the Archdiocese of Liverpool and has significantly expanded its client base in the past 12 months with growth of 25%.
Hamid Ghafoor, partner at BDO who leads the not for profit team across the North, said: “Our clients work with us for our deep understanding of their sector and the challenges they face.
“Helen’s appointment is a real coup – she brings with her extensive experience within public sector audit, particularly housing and education, which will be of enormous benefit to our clients and further boosts BDO’s public sector expertise within the region.”
Ms Knowles said: “I look forward to using my experience to support the firm’s focus on the not for profit sector and push ahead with exciting growth plans.”
Hamid Ghafoor and Helen Knowles
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