People on the move: Toast PR; JLL; de Winter: Secure Trust Bank

MANCHESTER-based Toast PR has appointed Lisa Wood as associate director to support its growing team, following a strong year.

Wood joins the having completed a successful eight-year stint at MediaCityUK as communications manager.

At Toast she will manage public relations accounts within the media, property and business sectors in the North West and nationally and will support the agency’s new business drive and expansion plans alongside managing director Julia Mitchell. 

Mitchell said: “It’s been a whirlwind 12 months for us with awards, new clients, new joins and even more growth planned.

“Lisa comes with the knowledge, contacts, experience and reputation that I know will propel us even further.

“She shares our passion, creativity and dedication to our industry and is the perfect fit for Toast as we continue to deliver outstanding PR campaigns for our clients and drive the business forward.”

Wood said: “Toast is definitely a PR agency to watch as it is going from strength to strength and I’m excited to join to the team in this period of growth. It has a fantastic client roster, delivers some impressive results and has a strong team of talented PR professionals producing exciting campaigns within the property, tech, media, fashion, retail, food and hospitality sectors.”

Toast, which also has offices in Leeds and London operates nationally and Lisa’s appointment takes the team to 15. Clients include Gossard, Lily O’Brien’s, Allied London, UK Juicers, Fatsoma, Intelesant, Grantley Hall & Spa, The Gate Films and Market Gravity.

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PROPERTY adviser JLL has made four new appointments across its North West teams, reflecting the continued demand for its wide range of consultancy services.

Reflecting continued growth in the region’s residential market, including significant interest in private rented sector (PRS) schemes, JLL has boosted its residential valuation team with the recruitment of senior surveyor Mabel Pearey, who joins from Bellway Homes.

Tom Robinson has been appointed as a graduate planner in JLL’s planning team, joining from Brown & Co, where he specialised in commercial planning in Yorkshire and the East Midlands.

Graduate surveyor Michael Linnane has joined the building consultancy team, following 18 months in JLL’s London office.

The firm’s property and asset management team has also appointed Andrew Nolan from property management specialist MJ Mapp as a senior surveyor. His role will be predominantly focused on the recently awarded contract to manage the commercial elements of Liverpool’s Albert Dock.

David Lathwood, lead director – North West at JLL, said: “Our research points to 2016 being another particularly buoyant year for the region’s property sector. As the market continues to go from strength to strength and with a significant number of new and existing clients upping their activity in the region as a result, we’re continuing to invest in attracting the best talent in the market.”

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PR, digital and design agency de Winter, which has offices in Manchester, Liverpool and Chester, has further expanded its team with the appointment of content marketing specialist, videographer and photographer Helen Lightfoot to the role of junior account executive.


Lightfoot worked with the events and content marketing team at de Winter alongside her studies at Manchester Metropolitan University for 12 months, before progressing into her new role.


Prior to joining deWinter, she  undertook a number of other work placements, working across consumer and B2B clients including Cake Angels, Carole Nash, TransPennine Express, The Willows Veterinary Group and Rugby League.

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MANCHESTER-based Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance continues to invest in the London and South East region with the appointment of Jeremy Uphill as portfolio and structuring director and Tony Young as regional sales director.

Uphill joins from Barclays, where he spent 32 years working across the personal and corporate banking and asset-based lending (ABL) divisions.

In his new role, he will provide ongoing management and support to his portfolio of clients whilst working collaboratively with Young to ensure a seamless experience for new clients.

Young joins Secure Trust Bank with over 16 years’ experience in asset based lending roles at companies including IBM, NatWest, and GE Capital.

Most recently, he spent four years working for Shawbrook Bank Business Credit, specialising in asset-based lending and structured finance deals.