People on the Move: Design Integrity; Hill Dickinson; SKV Communications; Oaknorth; Harvey Homes
Brand-led creative studio, Design Integrity, is celebrating the growth of its business with two new hires.
The Liverpool-based studio has welcomed its first full-time staff members, graphic designer and frontend developer, Nola McIntyre and junior graphic designer, Na Yu, to support client demand and business growth.
Design Integrity was founded in 2017 by Stephen Murray after nearly a decade in the industry.
Before establishing his own studio, Stephen worked for household names such as Nike, Dyson, Adidas, Shop Direct, Very.co.uk, John West UK and United Utilities.
He was instrumental in Shop Direct’s 2013 rebrand and designed the Dyson ‘Heat Wave’ ad campaign, which generated £500,000 gross revenue for the company.
Focused on brand-led creative campaigns with the power to command long-term customer buy in, Design Integrity has enjoyed strong growth since its establishment, winning high-profile clients such as Birmingham City Council, Shared Lives Plus, Ford Motors and the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool.
Stephen said: “Design Integrity has enjoyed steady growth in its first 18 months, which aligns perfectly with our values and vision.
“Being a brand-led creative agency means that we encourage clients to put their values at the very heart of all their creative and technological communications. We challenge everything from tone of voice, positioning, customer profiling and business personality, all in pursuit of extracting a brand’s uniqueness and finding the idea that will start a movement.”
Graphic designer and frontend developer Nola McIntyre joins Design Integrity with a wealth of cross-sector experience after working as an in-house graphic designer at Trove in Manchester and on a number of freelance projects.
Shillington graduate, Nola, spent six years working in finance and media valuation at Grant Thornton in London, before leaving to pursue a more creative career path.
Nola said: “My background means that I am able to bring many skills beyond graphic design to the table at Design Integrity. I developed a love of processes while working in finance and the life experiences I enjoyed while travelling and teaching English are invaluable when generating ideas and concepts. I hope this combination of skills will be able to support Design Integrity as it grows.”
The team has also been bolstered by the appointment of junior graphic designer Na Yu. Na was placed with Design Integrity through the St Helens Chamber of Commerce graduate scheme, on the advice of MSIF and recommendation of Stephen’s former tutor, Ian Mitchell, course leader for graphic design and visual communications at LJMU.
Prior to her appointment, Na was undertaking freelance projects while working in hospitality. She specialises in animation and motion graphics and is responsible for project delivery, working alongside the creative director.
Na said: “Stephen’s vision for Design Integrity matches my own approach to design work. I hope to bring fresh perspective to client projects through close communication, cooperation and sharing my best creative ideas.”
Speaking of the appointments, Stephen added: “Growing our staff base is an exciting and significant step in Design Integrity’s journey. Nola and Na bring exceptional technical skills, creative vision and diverse life experience to the team and with them on board I believe our business will continue to grow and thrive.”
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Hill Dickinson has expanded its private client team with the addition of two new associates.
Joining Hill Dickinson’s growing team in the North West are senior associate Richard Leslie and associate Kelly Monaghan.
Richard Leslie joins the North West team as a senior associate based in the firm’s Manchester office.
Richard has been a solicitor for more than 20 years and is a full member of STEP (the Society of Trust and
Estate Practitioners). Richard joins Hill Dickinson from Weightmans where he previously worked as a
consultant solicitor for five years.
Richard Leslie and Kelly Monaghan
He has extensive experience helping families and business owners on succession planning and tax mitigation through wills, trusts, deeds of variation, family charters and family investment companies.
Kelly Monaghan joins Hill Dickinson’s Liverpool office as an associate from Maxwell Hodge. Kelly qualified
as a solicitor in 2016 but has more than four years’ experience working in the private client field.
She specialises in will drafting and the administration of estates including obtaining grants of probate. Her
other areas of expertise include the preparation of lasting powers of attorney and applications to the Court
of Protection.
Announcing the appointments, Susan Sherry, legal director of the private client team, said: “We are thrilled to expand our existing strong private client team in the North West with two excellent new solicitors. Both Richard and Kelly will be great additions to the team and bring a wealth of skills and knowledge with them.”
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SKV Communications has appointed digital journalist, and former Manchester Evening News business reporter, Stuart Greer, to work across its portfolio of b2b clients.
Stuart moves from MEN Media where, in his role as trending writer, he used real-time analytics of audience metrics to optimise the performance of content.
Skilled in developing engaging SEO and evergreen content as part of long-term editorial search strategies, he will work with SKV’s clients to help create, shape and amplify their communications.
With 13 years’ experience at MEN Media, Stuart has held a number of posts including business reporter at the Manchester Evening News, working across print, web and social channels, and as a senior reporter on the Macclesfield Express, Salford Advertiser and Oldham Advertiser.
Stuart Greer
Stuart has been short-listed for the Business and Finance Journalist of the Year category in the Regional Press Awards for 2018.
At SKV he will be working across a client base which includes the UK arm of Siemens Digital Industries, the Siemens operating company responsible for industrial digitalisation.
He will also work on the Made Smarter North West pilot, a £20m joint private sector and government initiative which promotes and delivers the benefits of Industry 4.0 processes and technologies to the region’s SME manufacturers.
Managing Director, Andrew Spinoza, said: “Stuart’s combination of news reporting, business-to-business experience and extensive digital and online expertise makes him the perfect fit for SKV, especially with regards to our national and regional b2b accounts.
“I also anticipate that he will get involved with our public sector and consumer work, especially with regards to maximising online content and generating a buzz across social media.”
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OakNorth, the bank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, is bolstering its regional presence with the appointment of two senior team members in Manchester.
Despite ongoing economic uncertainty as a result of Brexit, OakNorth, which made £33.9m pre-tax profit in 2018, continues to see increasing demand from businesses and property developers across the UK, keen to pursue their growth ambitions.
The business has lent £3bn since its launch in September 2015 and the past 12 months has seen it receive more than £500m of repayments and a 160% increase in total loan facilities.
Christopher Swarbrick, who has 18 years’ banking experience, joins as a senior director, debt finance from Europa Capital Debt Investment and will lead on day-to-day responsibilities for the team in Manchester.
He will report directly into Ben Barbanel, head of debt finance, who is based in OakNorth’s London HQ.
Dave Rowlinson
He will be joined by David Rowlinson, who has 33 years’ experience from a multitude of institutions, and joins from Investec where, most recently, he led lending operations from their Manchester office.
Ben Barbanel said: “Our co-founder, Rishi Khosla, has always said that the best businesses thrive in times of economic turmoil.
“Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, we continue to see incredible demand from British businesses keen to pursue their growth ambitions, and because most high-street banks have been retrenching from SME lending, this has only been compounded.”
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Julie Owen has joined the Harvey Homes team as the company’s customer care manager, with responsibilities for sales and customer care as well as assisting with site procurement, house specification and marketing strategies.
With more than 20 years in customer care across the property and building industry as well as in the private medical sector, Julie brings her professional knowledge and expertise to equip Altrincham-based group with a leading customer care strategy in line with the company’s ethos of providing bespoke homes for discerning purchasers.
Julie Owen
Thomas Harvey-Ratcliffe, director and co-founder, said: “Julie is a marvellous addition to our team here at Harvey Homes and we welcome her knowledge and understanding in the sector so that we are able to enhance our offering to homebuyers across our portfolio.
“Initially, Julie’s focus will be on Swan Green as our reservations are confirmed, ensuring that purchasers have everything they require through conveyancing to completion.”
Julie Owen said: “I am delighted to be a part of the vastly experienced team here and look forward to meeting our clients and working with them to create their dream property at Swan Green. What’s more I look forward to working with the team as they develop new sites and more new homes for sale.”
