People on the move: HURST; DAC Beachcroft; Allied Insurance Services; UD Group; Working Time Solutions

Manchester-based accountancy firm HURST has promoted four members of its business services team, three of whom joined the practice as graduate trainees.

John Glover, who joined HURST as a senior manager from BDO in 2015, has become an associate partner.

Richard Smethurst and Paul Wright have become managers, while Anna Godwin has been promoted to assistant manager.

All three began their careers at HURST as graduate trainees.

The business services team provides advisory, audit and assurance services for owner-managed and private equity-backed companies across the north west and beyond. It is the largest team at HURST with 45 staff.

Partner Mike Jackson, who heads the team, said: “We are delighted to announce these promotions, which are fully-deserved and follow a record year of growth for our business services team.

“It’s especially gratifying to be able to reward talented young professionals in this way as we continue our policy of promoting from within to fill senior posts.

“John has led on a transformational project in the department enabling us to enhance our audit process, and Richard, Paul and Anna have all stepped up during an exciting period of rapid growth.

“We are continuing to actively recruit across all levels and departments, including a strong focus on graduate and apprentice entry-level posts.

HURST’s business services division saw double-digit growth in the firm’s latest financial year, during which it won over 30 new clients, including Delamere Dairies, Chandos Civil Engineering, e-foods and Travel World International.

::

Law firm DAC Beachcroft has promoted real estate specialist Rachael Reynolds in its Manchester office to legal director in a raft of promotions across its business.

It has nine new partners, seven new legal directors and 17 senior associates.

DAC Beachcroft managing partner David Pollitt said: “On behalf of the entire firm, I would like to congratulate all our new Partners, Legal Directors, Senior Associates and Associates.

“This range of promotions highlights the breadth of talent we have right across our business and the lengths to which our colleagues are prepared to go for our clients.”

::

David Moffitt has joined Wigan based Allied Insurance Services, from the Connexus Group, as a commercial insurance broker, with a remit to develop and grow existing and new accounts.

Joining the 10-strong team, David Moffitt has been brought into Allied Insurance Services to launch a number of new insurance schemes across a range of different sectors. These will include a new insurance scheme for Air BnB hosts and home owners and the region’s first insurance scheme for the Marine Industry.

Allied Insurance Services MD, Alisdair Lindley, said: “David is already becoming an integral and indispensable member of the Allied Team. The new insurance scheme for the Marine Industry is entirely unique to the North and the Air BnB insurance scheme will provide a number of unique elements for an industry that is growing at pace.

“David really has his finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest business trends and with his 30 years’ experience in the industry, he knows how to develop insurance schemes that provide the right protection, at the right price, for any business with a niche offering.”

David Moffitt said: “Allied Insurance Services has exciting plans for 2017 and I’m delighted to join the team on this journey. They are already extremely successful at what they do and in the insurance schemes that they currently provide. I’m looking forward to helping them build-on this with the new schemes that I have developed and I’m keen to launch them into the market very soon.”

Allied Insurance Services is one of Wigan’s leading commercial insurance brokers and provides a range of insurance schemes including; Polished Cleaning Insurance for cleaning contractors, landscape gardener’s insurance schemes, insurance schemes for the care and voluntary sector, and the latest addition; a new cyber and data breach protection insurance scheme for SMEs.

::

UD Group, the Manchester-based intelligent software developer for the energy and utilities sector, has announced the appointment of Simon Cook its chief executive.

Cook will lead UD Group’s commercial and organisational development as the business eyes further expansion
Cook joins with more than 20 years’ experience in the Information Technology sector.

His wealth of experience in bringing new products to international markets includes heading up successful sales and delivery teams across Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Spain.

Steven Daniels, director at UD Group, said: “Simon’s appointment is a real coup for UD Group. His track record in the international IT market, especially in adapting products for new markets, is exceptional and will prove instrumental in our continued growth.

“The appointment comes at a time of great opportunity for UD Group as we continue to secure major deals with some of the UK’s leading energy and utility retail businesses.”

Simon Cook replaces outgoing managing director Steve Armitage, who is stepping down having successfully managed the business over the last 18 months.

Daniels remains as a company shareholder and will continue to act as a consultant to the business, drawing on his four decades of experience in the energy sector.
::

Manchester-based Working Time Solutions has appointed a new chief technology officer to spearhead the ongoing development of its workforce planning and management software.

Paul Roberts joins with more than 20 years’ experience across software architecture, database design, public and private cloud computing and implementation of complex international systems.

Most recently he was head of development and delivery at Fundtech FSC, a provider of SaaS-based global transaction technology to banks and corporations, which was acquired as part of a $1.25bn deal with Canadian fintech company D+H in 2015.

Roberts’ new role sees him join the board of Working Time Solutions and he will head a 12-strong technology team responsible for the development of its innovative Work Suite product set and integration with client HR systems.

The specialist software enables organisations to design, implement and manage flexible shift patterns and rosters that dramatically improve productivity, enhance customer service and support employee wellbeing.

Roberts will lead the roll-out of Working Time Solution’s new SaaS technology, which includes MyTime, a self-service platform that enables employees to securely view and manage their shifts, holidays, and time banks using their personal mobile devices.

Established in 1994, Working Time Solutions’ diverse client base includes Premier Foods, Wales & West Utilities, Unilever, Dublin Airport, London Ambulance Service and Cheshire West and Chester council.

The business has helped organisations deliver over £100m in efficiencies whilst supporting the creation of full-time roles by reducing the need for overtime, agency staff and zero hours contracts.

Managing director Kevin White said: “Paul has an impressive track record of developing technology and talent that delivers significant value to clients.

“Attracting someone of his calibre from the fintech industry demonstrates the strength of our proposition and it’s increasing relevancy.”

Roberts said: “Demand-Led Rostering is a rapidly growing area of HR technology and I’m looking forward to helping clients deliver a step change in productivity and employee wellbeing.

“We have a strong platform and a clear roadmap to further enhance our SaaS, analytics, compliance and mobile functionality.”