People on the Move: CG; Strategic Land Group; Elite Bistros; Avison Young; Redrow

One of Lancashire’s best-known corporate lawyers is joining award-winning Chorley-based law firm CG.

Jane Haymes is making the move to the fast-growing legal practice from Napthens, where she was a partner.

“Jane is right at the very top of her profession — she’s an established and highly-respected name and any legal firm would want to have someone of her ability in their team,” said Stacey Turner, who co-founded CG with Louise Myers.

“We’re delighted to welcome her to the team. Her arrival further bolsters our top team and puts us in a great position to win more business in the future. We’ve always aimed to bring a fresh new approach to the legal sector and Jane is the perfect person to help us do this,” she added.

Jane’s arrival further expands CG’s services, which now include corporate, commercial, banking and finance, business recovery, commercial property and employment law.

Jane said: “I was looking for a new challenge and I was attracted by the people at CG and the fresh approach taken by them. It’s a very dynamic, forward-thinking set-up and I’m really excited about our future prospects.”

CG was launched by lawyers Turner and Myers. It advises a number of well-known and established business organisations from across the UK.

The CG team has become known for offering bespoke, commercial solution-focused advice and practical support.

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The Strategic Land Group has boosted its headcount with the appointment of Guy Horswell as land and planning assistant.

SLG is a specialist land promoter headquartered in Manchester.

Its current portfolio has the potential to deliver around 2,500 new homes with a GDV of around £400m.

Horswell joins SLG from Stags where he was planning assistant, supporting on a range of planning matters, including unilateral undertakings, pre-application enquiries, neighbourhood plans representations and permitted development rights.

Guy Horswell

Paul Smith, managing director of Strategic Land Group, said: “2018 has seen our portfolio continue to grow, with new sites coming on board throughout England and Wales – however, we remain committed to providing our clients with the very best advice and level of service and bringing Guy on board will support that continued focus.

“I’ve no doubt that Guy will be a great support to our team as we continue to expand, working with our landowner partners to release under-used sites and bring new locations forward for much-needed new homes.”

Guy added: “The Strategic Land Group is a well-respected firm, largely due to its commitment to client care, focus on results and the technical talent and expertise within the team.

“It’s also a fast-growing business with sites spanning the country and I’m looking forward to working alongside Paul and supporting the team as SLG continues to grow.”

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Claire Wright, formerly financial director of Gary Usher’s ‘Elite Bistro’s of the World’ group of restaurants, has been promoted to managing director.

Gary Usher said: “For the last three years, behind the scenes, Claire has been at the forefront of everything we do. Claire’s initial role was to take care of the accounts, however, within a matter of months she totally changed the direction of the business.

“Claire made sure that my ambitious, sometimes reckless, expansion plans were backed up with careful planning and meticulous financial scrutiny. I am so proud that she has accepted the position of managing director, which can only enhance and complement the group as we move forward.”

Claire wright

Elite Bistro’s recently opened its fifth restaurant, Pinion, in Prescot, Merseyside, following a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign, which saw £50,000 raised in less than an hour.

Claire said: “The last few years have been an absolute whirlwind, but working with Gary and his exceptional team is, and continues to be, a fantastic experience.

“There are incredibly exciting times ahead and I couldn’t be happier to take on the new role.”

Work to open the sixth bistro, ‘Kala’, in Manchester city centre is well under way, with the restaurant scheduled to open its doors on King Street in February 2019.

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International commercial real estate firm Avison Young continues to grow its Manchester team with a string of new appointments and promotions.

Promoted from senior surveyor to associate director are James Goode in the industrial team and Harry Skinner and Mark Cooke from the office agency team.

James has 10 years’ property experience and a broad agency background having held roles both client-side and working within agency teams. Key clients include Stoford Developments, Bericote, Peel Land and Property and Sladen Estates.

Harry joined the company six years ago as a graduate and has since played a key role in securing lettings, sales and acquisitions for clients including BMO Real Estate, London and Scottish, Millerbrook Properties, PD Properties and Bruntwood.

From left: James Goode, Mark Cooke and Harry Skinner

Mark joined the company three years ago having previously worked for NAI Fuller Peiser and BNP Paribas and represents clients including Peel, CEG, Kames Capital, Fujitsu and Royal London.

Also joining the office agency team is graduate surveyor Scott Meakin who qualified with first class honours in Real Estate (BSc) from Nottingham Trent University.

Before joining Avison Young, Scott had previously worked in student investment, development, auctioneering and valuation and is now studying for his APC.

Surveyor, Glenn Taylor, joins the asset management team having previously run his own business and most recently worked with Scanlans for more than a decade.

Glenn has particular expertise in dealing with challenging management sites and was instrumental in obtaining positive outcomes of NHBC and Zurich Insurance claims for mixed-use developments throughout the North West of England.

Also joining Glenn in the eight-strong asset management team are Emma Dutton who joins as administrator, and Ceryn Coughlin in the role of property accountant.

Managing director Mark Williams said: “The past year has been one of significant growth and expansion for the Manchester team and we are continually looking to recruit the best new talent, from industry, direct from university, as well as promoting internally.

“James, Harry and Mark have been core members of the team for many years and were integral to its success in securing some of the most high profile transactions in the North West this year.

“Investing in our staff and strengthening key departments will help us to achieve our significant growth ambitions.”

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The career of Redrow’s new commercial director Neil Howard has come full circle as he rejoins the company where he began his career as a trainee.

Neil is based at the regional headquarters of Redrow Homes (NW) in Daresbury, Cheshire, where he oversees a team of quantity surveyors, buyers and a commercial manager.

Their role is to procure suppliers and sub-contractors, manage those relationships and ensure that the business delivers its construction projects cost-effectively.

Neil Howard

Neil spent the first 12 years of his career with Redrow from 1997 to 2009, after joining the business aged 18 as a trainee quantity surveyor, eventually becoming a senior QS.

He then moved to pastures new and continued his career progression through chief surveyor, commercial manager and, finally, commercial director, with a number of developers including Barratt, Taylor Wimpey and Countryside Homes.

But for Neil, 39, returning to Redrow is like ‘coming home’.

“I love the Redrow product and truly believe it’s the best. There’s a real passion among Redrow people about our homes and the developments we create, which comes from the very top, our chairman, and it definitely influenced my decision to return,” he said.

Welcoming Neil to his new role, Redrow Homes (NW) managing director Paul Moore, said: “Neil brings the best of both worlds to this position – he has prior knowledge and experience of the Redrow business and its ways, but can also bring in experience and connections from outside.

“And he’s the perfect role model for younger members of our team with their own career aspirations.”