On the move: the latest East Midlands hires

Pete Taylor, MD of East Midlands-headquartered recruitment agency Encore Personnel, has been appointed managing director of Gi Group Staffing UK & Ireland following the merger of the two companies.

Gi Group, one of the UK’s leading HR solutions companies, acquired Encore at the end of last year.

Taylor succeeds outgoing MD Paul Smith, who dedicated almost two decades of his career to growing and cementing Gi Group’s presence across the country. He has spent 26 years working in the recruitment sector — the last 17 of which were with Encore.

Taylor said: “I’m honoured to be taking the baton, as it were, from Paul who has demonstrated in the short time we have worked together how investment in and dedication to the people of Gi Group is the key to success in this very important role.

“Having steered the Encore ship through some of the choppiest waters in our history, during the pandemic and its aftermath, I feel prepared for, whilst also incredibly humbled, to be taking on the responsibility of the position of MD for our now much larger, united business, which has the combined potential to change thousands of lives for the better.

“Gi Group is one of the most respected and forward-thinking HR and recruitment businesses in the world and I know that with the added talent, passion, diverse skill sets and experience of Encore’s consultants, we are now truly a force to be reckoned with. Our mission is simple: to help candidates find fulfilling and rewarding work, while supporting our customers to grow their businesses through, always evolving industry-leading recruitment and HR strategies and practices.

“The future is bright for Gi Group and I’m delighted to be playing a key role in mapping out the next chapter for an ambitious, bold and pioneering business with much potential to drive impactful change and innovation in the labour market.”

Gi Group operates more than 26 branches and 60 sites across the UK, employing 650 people nationally.

Paulo Canoa, country manager at Gi Group UK, said: “This is a time of great change and great opportunity for our award-winning business. We wish Paul the very best and thank him for his 18 years’ service, having been with us from the very start and being instrumental in the development of the business from a small independent recruiter to where it is now, the second largest country in Gi Group globally.

“I am delighted to announce that Paul will be succeeded by Pete Taylor as MD Gi Group Staffing UK & Ireland. Pete is very experienced in both branch and site delivery models and comes with a wealth of experience in both blue and black collar recruitment across multiple disciplines. Pete is also a respected member of the industry who has been heavily involved with the REC and currently serves on the Exec Members Group of the ALP.

“This will be an exciting new chapter for Gi UK, and the whole business joins me in wishing Pete every success in his new role.”

Elsewhere, Business Peak District has named Dr Peter Dewhurst as its new chair following Robin Eyre’s decision to step down after almost five years.

Dr Peter Dewhurst

Dewhurst began his career as the co-founder of an import, wholesale and retail business before moving into the higher education sector, taking on senior management roles at the University of Wolverhampton and the University of Derby’s Buxton campus. He is currently director of strategic projects at the University of Derby, whilst also serving as a non-executive director on the board of East Midlands Chamber, and is chair of the Peak District Partnership.

Tracy Duggan, founder and director of High Peak-based skillslocal, has been appointed vice chair.

Dewhurst said: “[My] aim will be to build on the foundations laid by the previous BPD chair and in collaboration with key partners, to support both existing and future Peak District based businesses to achieve their full potential, whilst helping to ensure a low carbon and sustainable future for the economy of the Peak District. I also believe that the current period is a time when there is a need for BPD to become a more visible champion and voice of businesses within the Peak District.”