People on the Move: Baines Wilson; Bibby Financial Services; The Landing; Five Wealth; Lambert Smith Hampton

Sophi Al-Tikriti, left, and Catherine Cross

Law firm Baines Wilson has made two new appointments to its commercial property team as the firm continues to grow.

Sophi Al-Tikriti joins as a solicitor from JMW Solicitors, Manchester, and Catherine Cross joins as a paralegal having previously worked at Gateley, Manchester.

Sophi has particular experience acting on behalf of landlords and tenants, advising on commercial refinances and helping with commercial purchases and disposals.

She said: “Recognised by both Chambers and Legal 500, who advise they should be ‘a key name on any shortlist’, the commercial property team at Baines Wilson has a formidable reputation, so I’m delighted to be joining their ranks.”

Catherine Cross has wide ranging experience assisting on both transactional and litigated property matters.

“The commercial property team are known for their strong technical knowledge, commercial outlook and ability to provide straightforward and practical advice. I look forward to working with clients UK wide.”

Sean Logue, head of commercial property, said: “The commercial property market in Cumbria remains strong and that is reflected in the growth we’ve enjoyed over the past 12 months.

“Sophi and Catherine both bring valuable experience, which strengthens our offering and benefits our clients.”

::

Bibby Financial Services (BFS) has appointed Paul Lomas as global HR director to develop and implement the business’s global HR operating model in line with its global growth strategy.

Joining Liverpool-based BFS from Oxford University Press, where he held the role of group HR director, Paul has more than 30 years’ experience working within businesses of all size, including Lucent Technologies, Abbey Santander and specialist staffing business, SThree.

Prior to joining Oxford University Press, Paul was HR director at WorldPay, where he was responsible for creating and implementing a HR agenda delivering transformational performance across the organisation following the private equity buy-out from RBS.

Paul said: “As one of the foremost independent financial services partners for SMEs, I am delighted to join BFS at a time of significant growth.

Paul Lomas

“Retaining and acquiring leading talent is at the heart of BFS’s strategy and this is reflected in our inclusion in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For poll over the past seven years, in addition to our high level of employee engagement.

“We have ambitious growth plans over the coming years and we are committed to developing a commercially-focused people strategy that delivers for our business, colleagues and the communities in which we work.”

David Postings, global chief executive of BFS, said: “Our ambition is to be the financial services company with which every ambitious business would love to work, and it’s, therefore, essential that we attract, retain and develop leading industry talent.

“I’m delighted to welcome Paul to BFS to drive forward our international operating model and talent strategy.”

BFS has more than 1,350 employees worldwide, through its office network in 14 countries across Europe, North America and Asia.

::

Four new appointments have been made at The Landing, at MediaCityUK, as part of a new 10-year plan designed to ramp up support and drive rapid growth for tech start-ups.

The management team is being strengthened by the appointment of a new financial controller, Kelly Byrne, who joins the team this week. Previously from We Are Nova in Liverpool, Kelly has a strong background in small businesses and the digital sector.

The Landing is also putting more support in place for its resident businesses with the creation of a specialist business services team. Former community manager at The Landing, Shu-Ling Li, has been promoted and will lead the new team as head of business services.

The new team will be built around the needs of the tech start-ups based at The Landing and will work closely with these businesses to help them achieve rapid growth.

Shu-Ling will be supported by three new appointments. As business and community manager, Chris Stephens, will work closely with Shu-Ling in supporting more than 100 companies based at The Landing. His remit will also include supporting The Landing’s important community activity.

From left: Kelly Byrne, Chris Stephens, Shu-Ling Li, James Summerton, Paul Billington and Holly Lindon

A new role is being created to increase visibility of The Landing across Greater Manchester. James Summerton, previously of Computer Futures, will take on the fast-paced role of business development manager. This will be a key part of the new business services team but will report directly to managing director, Paul Billington.

Finally, a marketing apprentice, Holly Lindon, has been appointed to support businesses based at The Landing.

Holly’s role will to seek to increase exposure for the start-ups based at The Landing by creating a greater volume of social and video content to help drive their growth, as well as the continued growth of The Landing.

She will also be responsible for the creation of The Landing’s own YouTube channel, The Landing TV.

The Landing is an international rapid growth facility for start-ups in the tech sector and also runs ERDF-funded workshops for the benefit of tech entrepreneurs across Greater Manchester.

These new appointments, coupled with the creation of a dedicated business services team, will enable it to reach out to entrepreneurs in the tech sector right across Greater Manchester, but also nationally and internationally.

Paul Billington, managing director at The Landing, said: “I am thrilled about these appointments and really excited that our 10-year plan for The Landing is now beginning to take shape. We pride ourselves on being a rapid start-up facility and we are here, first and foremost, to help our businesses to grow quickly and to establish themselves in their individual markets within the technology sector.

“At The Landing, we have all the tools and facilities needed to make any tech start-up a success and now, with a dedicated business services team at their disposal, we are in an even stronger position to support them on their exciting journey.”

::

Manchester financial planner, Five Wealth, has announced the promotion of two newly-qualified advisers at its Chancery Place offices.

Amy Grace and Susan Nelder

Amy Grace and Susan Nelder have achieved regulatory sign-off and are now qualified financial advisers.

Both Amy and Susan have been with the company from its inception in 2016, working closely with directors Phill Dewhurst and Phil Shaw, who said they are delighted that they have both now progressed to adviser status.

The firm also announced that two financial planning managers have passed the first stage of their exams.

Rick Gosling and Angelica Rothwell have now achieved the Diploma in Financial Planning from the CII and will begin working towards their Advanced Diploma.

::

Lambert Smith Hampton has made three new hires to its planning and development consultancy team in Manchester, welcoming Phil Crowther back to the business as associate director of planning and development and appointing two new town planners.

Phil Crowther rejoins Lambert Smith Hampton after 18 months gaining client-side experience as a land-buyer with Story Homes and Churchill Retirement Living.

During his previous tenure Phil worked as a surveyor specialising in development viability and residential land agency for both public and private sector clients.

Phil will now lead the residential land agency team, focusing on all residential land transactions.

Phil Crowther

He said: “Returning to LSH gives me the opportunity to utilise my experience working for developers to help expand our residential land agency business across multiple sectors. I’m rejoining at an exciting time for the business as we target the opportunities generated by the strengthening residential market in the North West and surrounding regions.”

Poppy Hilton joins Lambert Smith Hampton as a chartered town planner from Lichfields’ Manchester office, having gained her MRTPI accreditation in December 2017.

Poppy spent three years with Lichfields following her graduation from the University of Manchester.

She has worked on a variety of projects across the North West, promoting sites as part of the preparation of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, and securing planning permission for residential development at Kings Hill, Bromborough.

Andrew Corrin, formerly of WSP, joins Lambert Smith Hampton as a graduate town planner. Andrew graduated from the University of Glasgow in September 2017, with a Masters of City & Regional Planning.

Simon Turner, Lambert Smith Hampton’s regional head of planning and development consultancy, said: “These new appointments demonstrate just how important planning expertise is to LSH’s strategic offer to clients and reflects the continued and sustainable growth in the North West property market.

“Phil, in particular, will be instrumental in growing the planning and development consultancy’s portfolio and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to the business.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close