Property Appointments: BCO NextGen; Thomasons; JS Wright

The Business Development manager for GVA’s National Offices and Education teams, Gemma Wilkinson has been appointed as Midlands Chair of the British Council for Offices’ NextGen committee.

Part of her role will see her oversee and define the delivery of the organisation’s events programme for the next year.

BCO NextGen is aimed at encouraging networking and sharing of knowledge between young professionals in the commercial property sector.

It is the only multi-disciplinary membership organisation for the offices sector in the UK, with members from disciplines including architects, engineers, designers, agents, surveyors and property managers.

Ms Wilkinson said: “Working at one of the country’s leading real estate advisory firms provides a great basis of what’s current and relevant within the market and this is a really exciting time for the commercial offices sector in the Midlands.

“Aside from the significant developments like Friargate in Coventry and Paradise and Arena Central in Birmingham, we are seeing more refurbishments of existing stock to satisfy the requirements of the huge number of businesses that want to relocate to this region.

“The BCO NextGen committee has already established a fantastic programme of talks, tours and activities and over the next year my goal is to build on this. I’d like to open up the organisation to more new members, particularly graduates, increase our involvement in CSR-based activity and link-in with the main BCO committee in the region to open up mentoring opportunities for our members.”

Ms Wilkinson will be taking over from current chair, Joe Vale, associate at Robinson Low Francis.

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Thomasons has appointed new associate Afzal Suman to its Birmingham office as the civil and structural engineering firm looks to strengthen its presence in the Midlands.

Afzal (left) is a Chartered Structural Engineer with 17 years’ professional experience gained in the UK and the Middle East. He has extensive experience in the structural design of steel and concrete structures, as well as in the management of large-scale engineering projects in the leisure, industrial, commercial and residential sectors. He previously held senior positions at WSP, Ramboll and NPS Group.

Nick Russell, director of Thomasons, said: “Afzal’s strong expertise, in the UK and internationally, will be of great value to our business.  His appointment not only strengthens our team in Birmingham, but reflects our ongoing strategy to develop Thomasons as a centre of excellence in the Midlands and across the UK.”
 
Thomasons’ projects range from private homes and housing developments to retail parks, town centre regenerations and major hospital redevelopments. The firm plans to expand its Birmingham office further in 2017 as it looks to cement its position as one of the most prominent engineering consultancies in the city and wider region.
 
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Birmingham-based mechanical and electrical services provider, J S Wright has appointed three new mechanical project managers across all three of its UK offices (Birmingham, Bristol and London) as it looks to become a £50m-turnover business.

Daniel Kenmare, (pictured) who has 15 years of experience in the construction industry, has strengthened the project management group working from the 127-year-old company’s head office at Portland Street in Aston.

Previously an M&E project manager for a construction group in Borehamwood, he has worked on major residential schemes including St Dunstan’s House at Fetter Lane in central London and Ruskin Square in Croydon.

Mr Kenmare, who lives in Milton Keynes, is now working on a £27m contract to equip London’s new 441-home Keybridge development, which includes Britain’s tallest brick apartment tower.

Lee Sherriff has joined the company’s office in Westbury-on Trym after working as a mechanical contracts manager for a major engineering company in Bristol where he also played a lead role in managing the electrical installation elements of combined M&E projects.

Andy Mison, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, has joined J S Wright’s office at Northumberland Avenue in Trafalgar Square, London.

During stints with M&E firms in London, Ilford and Bedford, he managed a number of prestigious Government contracts and major residential regeneration projects.

Marcus Aniol, managing director of J S Wright, said: “I am delighted that we have strengthened our project management team with such high-quality appointments as we look forward to fulfilling a record order book as one of the UK’s leading M&E building services providers.”