People: Falconer Chester Hall; Find a Better Way; PM+M & more
FALCONER Chester Hall – the Liverpool based architectural practice – has appointed David George to head up its new Manchester office. David was previously associate director at AEW Architects for four and a half years.
Founded 20 years ago and headed up by Paul Falconer and Adam Hall, Falconer Chester Hall is an award winning studio specialising in the PRS, student, commercial, hotel and leisure sectors.
Adam Hall, managing director of Falconer Chester Hall, said: “Since we established our London office five years ago and following the creation of the Northern Powerhouse, a Manchester office has been high on our agenda for some time but we were keen to ensure that we had the right person for the job.
“David is not only a talented architect with ideas and an ethos that resonates with our own but he is also a well known figure on the Manchester property scene.”
“As a firm, we are already working on a number of high profile projects around Manchester including The Residence, for Elliot Group, the Media City residential development for X1 and the Ice Plant in Ancoats for the Northern Group.”
George added: “Falconer Chester Hall is an innovative and dynamic architectural practice. This is an exciting opportunity for me and I look forward to the challenges ahead as we work together to build on the firm’s strong existing reputation and help cement existing relationships and increase its presence in Manchester.”
Edwards & Co has been retained to acquire office space in the city centre for the new studio.
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FIND A Better Way, the landmine charity founded by Manchester United and England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton, has announced the appointment of Lou McGrath as chief executive.
The landmine and international affairs veteran served as CEO to the Mine Advisory Group (MAG) for 14 years.
Under his leadership both MAG’s income and its landmine clearance programmes grew substantially. He later established MAG America in Washington DC, opening the organisation’s humanitarian work to new sources of funding. McGrath was awarded an OBE in 2007 for services to landmine clearance.
McGrath said, “I’ve long been an admirer of the work of Find A Better Way and I am very pleased to be bringing my experience from the wider mine action community to support Sir Bobby’s cause.
“Find A Better Way funds several impressive research projects which have the potential to accelerate landmine detection and enhance the lives of landmine trauma victims. I’m looking forward to helping develop this pioneering research and working with the rest of the Find A Better Way team to help the charity reach its full potential.”
Find A Better Way was established by Sir Bobby, following a visit to Cambodia where he witnessed first-hand the effects of mines on local communities whose lives were endangered every day.
Convinced that with modern technological advances there had to be other ways to aid the detection of landmines and speed- up the clearance process, he set up the charity in 2011.
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PM+M – the Blackburn based chartered accountancy, business advisory and wealth management group – has announced a series of promotions across the business as well as the appointment of Jill Morris as a director in its Run My Business division.
Morris joins Run My Business – which is PM+M’s dedicated fixed fee package covering bookkeeping, accounts, payroll, VAT and tax returns – from CLB Coopers where she worked for 11 years.
Her role will be focused on helping owner managed businesses to drive growth and streamline their processes, systems, procedures, recoveries and efficiencies using technology and innovation. She trained at Thompson Jones in Bury and is FCA Qualified.
Morris said: “I’m really excited about taking up this new role as I’ve admired PM+M for many years. I was attracted to the firm because of its strong vision for the future, its modern approach and clear commitment to technology and software. I’m now looking forward to working with my clients and adding real value to the business.”
The first promotion is Chris Johnson who becomes a partner in the corporate services team. He joined PM+M 16 years ago and was previously a corporate services director.
Claire Furnival and Ben Thornley – both colleagues of Chris in the corporate services team – have been promoted from assistant manager to manager; whilst Jonathan Cunningham has also been promoted to manager in the tax team.
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JS Burgess, the High Peak-based independent stillage design and manufacturing company, has expanded its operations team by taking on an additional CAD designer Jack King.
King, who joins from Stockport-based M4 Projects, arrives at a time of on-going expansion and investment for the Derbyshire stillage manufacturer, who have recently completed £1 m investment into its factory.
King said: “I believe I have joined JS Burgess at an ideal time, both in my own career and at a key point in the company’s growth. I’m looking forward to building on my existing engineering background and technical knowledge to be part of an experienced and dedicated team.”
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BARRATT Manchester sales director Michaela Lancaster has further strengthened her sales team in the North West, with a series of strategic new appointments and internal promotions.
With more than 130 years’ notched up between them, and boasting a wide geographical range of experience, the newly bolstered team will play a crucial part in realising Barratt Manchester’s ambitious sales plans for 2016/17.
Lancaster joined the division in April last year, bringing with her a wealth of experience, including sales and marketing director roles at Miller Homes, Gladedale Homes, Gleeson and Countryside Homes.
Established team members, senior sales manager Adrian Hilton, along with sales managers Lee Bowers, Elaine Caulfield and part exchange manager, Dene Trickett, have now been joined by three new faces.
Sue Irving, joins Barratt Manchester as senior sales manager from her previous position as sales manager at Taylor Wimpey, along with senior sales manager, Becky Leighton, formerly sales director at Prospect Homes and who brings with her more than 20 years’ industry experience, and Alan Watt who has been internally promoted from sales adviser to sales manager.
Lancaster said: “I’m delighted to welcome our new sales people, who bring with them a huge amount of depth to an already highly successful team. As the biggest division in Barratt’s Central Region, we have had a strong and consistent sales rate throughout the year.”
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CHESHIRE-based Calderpeel Architects has strengthened its commercial offering with the appointment of experienced architect Tony Bennett.
Bennett, who joins after seven years with Pozzoni Architects, will work with Calderpeel in a non-executive director role to further develop its commercial team.
A specialist in the production and processing sector, and in the master planning of industrial and logistics estates, Bennett’s experience includes work on projects for the likes of Unilver, PZ Cussons and ERF Trucks.
Ewen Miller, managing director of Altrincham-based Calderpeel, said: “Commercial and industrial is a growing sector for the practice. We’re working on more projects as confidence and investment continues to return to the market. Tony’s unrivalled experience will help us create and convert new opportunities and deliver outstanding work for clients.”
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BOLTON-based energy price comparison service Love Energy Savings has appointed Jackie Shipperbottom as its new compliance officer.
She spent more than six years at energy procurement company Inenco working her way up from engineering administrator to compliance officer and then to renewable energy analyst and project manager.
Having worked closely with the likes of Ofgem, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), The National Grid and numerous energy suppliers.
Phil Foster, managing director of Love Energy Savings, said: “We are thrilled that Jackie chose to join us at such an exciting time for the business. We are growing rapidly and we are keen to take our place as market leaders in the energy price comparison industry.”
