People: Venture capital firm adds to West Midlands team; New trustees for Historic Coventry Trust; and more

George Wood

Venture capital firm Midven has recruited two analysts following a sustained period of growth and investment in the West Midlands.

Graduates George Wood and Liam Bradley have joined the firm in a period of strong growth, with recent Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) investments in companies eTravel Safety, Assembled Electronics Solutions (AES) and Geospatial Insight.

Midven’s director Roger Wood, said: “We’re delighted Liam and George have joined Midven at such an exciting time of development and progression at the firm. Both are eager to hit the ground running and focus on how they can add the value to each fund they’re working on.

“It’s an extremely busy time for Midven with our extensive MEIF investment activity and recent launch of the GB EIS Fund. We are looking forward to Liam and George contributing to our ongoing growth as a venture capital firm.”

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Andrew Whelan (left) and Mark Ratcliffe, who have become trustees of Historic Coventry Trust, outside The Charterhouse

Coventry’s heritage charity has appointed two major national players to strengthen the board in the run-up to City of Culture.

Mark Ratcliffe, who is head of estates for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and Andrew Whelan, who is head of UK commercial property lending for Santander Bank, have been appointed as trustees of Historic Coventry Trust.

The trust has grown rapidly from its launch in 2012 to become one of the leading organisations nationally in pioneering new ways of bringing heritage back to life. The current £30m development programme includes 22 buildings and sites agreed to be transferred from Coventry City Council last December.

The largest project is the restoration of the Grade I Listed Charterhouse as a major visitor attraction at the centre of the new 70-acre Heritage Park which includes the adjoining Grade 1 London Road Cemetery. Plans were also recently announced for the restoration of the Grade II Regency-style Drapers’ Hall next to Coventry Cathedral. A new classical music performance and education venue is to be created in partnership with The Prince’s Foundation.

Ian Harrabin, chairman of the Historic Coventry Trust, said: “Heritage charities run by volunteers invariably do one small project at a time and often run out of steam. Our approach is totally different based on starting a business and growing quickly to gain a critical mass over five years that is self-sustaining.

“In order to do this we need the skill set and contacts of the best in their field. Mark and Andrew both bring huge experience from different sectors to the board of the trust.”
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McCann Central has boosted its senior management team with the appointment of Jacob Dutton as managing director, consulting and Chris Falconer to the position of managing director, McCann Demand.

Dutton joins from his previous position as managing partner at 383, a customer experience, digital transformation and innovation agency.

At McCann he will work with the digital team to further support the agency’s fast-growing offering and lead the expansion of McCann’s consultancy services.

Falconer joins from Communicator where he was managing director. He has also held senior roles within other McCann Worldwide companies, including Momentum and McCann Humancare. He will lead the McCann Demand team based in London and work in close collaboration supported by the Milton Keynes office headed up by managing director, Paul Dean.

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