People: English Lakes Hotels; HGF & more
NORTH West hotel group has English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues appointed a new leisure manager to develop its activities across its five venues.
The company has hired a familiar face, former general manager, Michael Kay, to take forward its leisure strategy and widen the range of recreational choices on offer for guests.
Mr Kay first worked for the group as part of his HND placement, before securing a permanent role in 1993 and working his way up to become general manager responsible for Waterhead Hotel and Low Wood Leisure Club.
In 2003, he took the opportunity to pursue a new role in multi-site management and brand development, including taking care of a luxury estate, multiple leisure spas and a prominent self-catering business in the Lake District. More recently he has been involved in developing a successful travel company offering worldwide guided holidays primarily to the American market.
Kay said: “It’s a pleasure to re-join the team at English Lakes and to be placed at the helm of the current and future development of the group’s leisure activities.
“It’s an exciting time, not only as we move through a new phase for Low Wood Bay, but also as we continue to consider and develop exciting opportunities across the whole portfolio of our venues.”
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THE Manchester office of intellectual property law firm has expanded by taking on five new recruits in the last few week.
The newcomers are: Dr Balvinder Matharu, a patent attorney specialising in pharmaceuticals, who has joined as a patent director from the in-house patent team at AstraZeneca; Emily Baeza Chavez has joined as a Solicitor from Field Fisher. The firm has also taken on three new trainees: Leon Zhang joins as trainee patent attorney in the electronics and computer software field; William McGrail joins as a trainee patent attorney in engineering field; and Rachel Cockin has been recruited as a trainee trade mark attorney.
Andrew Wells, the Manchester office head said: “The five new recruits are an investment in the future and show a considerable investment across all practice areas of the firm. The Manchester Office has trebled in size over the past five years, with over 25 patent and trade mark attorneys and IP solicitors here, forming one of the largest dedicated IP law practices in Manchester and the North West.”
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MAYES Accountants, the Accrington-based firm, has appointed Tim Smith as a business growth consultant to lead the development of a new business growth service to ensure clients maximise their business potential.
Smith specialises in business growth, marketing strategy development and change management and has helped a number of business in the North West to grow beyond their expectations. He gas an MSc in marketing and is a qualified business adviser and mentor.
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LANCASHIRE pet food manufacturer Pets Choice has bolstered its team with four new recruits, including senior hire Peter Birch, who has joined as head of operations.
The others are Charlie Jenkins who has joined as brand manager, Ben Windeatt as senior national account manager, and Paschalina Papadogkona, new product development manager.
Chief executive Tony Raeburn, said: “Pets Choice is experiencing a fantastic period of growth thanks to the continued success of our broad product range. Our new recruits are joining at an exciting time for the company and we are confident that they will be great assets to the team.”
Head of operations Peter Birch has previously worked for high-profile brands such as Soreen and Greggs. He comments: “Pets Choice has ambitious and exciting growth plans for the future, which is something I’m incredibly excited to be a part of. I have a lot of experience in building businesses and developing production sites, so I’m excited to put this to good use in the coming months.”
Pets Choice’s brands including Webbox, Davies, Oceanic and Goodwyns.
