People: Former PKF regional chairman and BDO senior partner joins construction group board; Director hire for college; and more

HARRIS Construction Management has appointed business advisor Bob McNaughton as a non-executive director.

Mr McNaughton brings a wealth of experience to the firm, which includes Harris CM and HCM Interiors and employs a 60 strong team from its Wakefield headquarters.

He was previously Northern regional chairman and a member of the national board at PKF.  He worked across an extensive portfolio of clients across Yorkshire and further afield during his 29 years as a partner at PKF and latterly BDO where he was a senior partner after the merger of the two firms.  Mr McNaughton retired from BDO almost two years ago.

He says: “Harris Construction Management is fast becoming one of the region’s biggest success stories in the construction industry, combining the entrepreneurial instincts of its directors with a corporate professionalism, which has enabled it to quickly establish a very enviable client list.  It’s a privilege to be working with the team and I’m looking forward to the opportunities that lie ahead, as we continue growing the company’s market share.”

Harris CM predominantly operates in the private sector delivering industrial, commercial and large retail schemes nationally whilst HCM Interiors works on restaurant schemes and interior fit-outs throughout the UK, Europe and the USA.

The group has delivered consecutive year on year profitable growth since its formation in 2007 and forecasted turnover in 2016 exceeds £50m.

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A BUSINESS development director has been appointed at The Sheffield College.

Andrew Hartley will develop partnerships with organisations for apprenticeship and workforce development provision to match regional employers’ skills needs and support economic growth.

He said: “I am delighted to join the College to develop its work with employers, in preparation for the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and the new apprenticeship standards.”

He added: “With the prospect of devolved powers, Sheffield City Region has a tremendous opportunity to become one of the leading areas in the country for workforce skills development and apprenticeships.”

He joins the College from System Training, one of the UK’s leading training providers for the logistics industry. He led the company’s preparation for the introduction of the government’s apprenticeship reforms. Mr Hartley also secured new training partnership agreements with employers and other training providers.

Prior to that, he worked at the University of Derby for 10 years and led the business development activity including the management of the University’s work based learning and business-to-business operating arm.

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North of England Excellence (NoEE) has appointed managing director at Siemens Energy Management, Carl Ennis, as chairman to help steer the membership organisation through what it says is a ‘critical time’ for the northern economy.

A chartered engineer, Mr Ennis joins the board of the not-for-profit organisation which supports business leaders in the north.

“I’m honoured to take up the role of chairman at North of England Excellence,” said Mr Ennis. “In the post-Brexit economy, organisations need to raise their game and the NoEE team is very much up to the challenge of helping members identify and implement new procedures and processes to help shape a new, vibrant future for the Northern Powerhouse.”

Mr Ennis takes over at NoEE from Paul Evans, director of business excellence at Liverpool John Moores University, who has been chairman since 2006.

Chief executive of NoEE, Andrew Palmer said: “I am delighted with Carl’s appointment. He brings a wealth of experience to the role and joins at a time when our work promoting the business and wider benefits of a commitment to excellence is more important than ever.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank Paul Evans as the outgoing chairman Under his leadership NoEE has developed into a strategic and influential organisation that truly adds value to the excellence journey and, importantly, to the commercial success of our members.”