People on the move: Catapult Ventures; RSK; Box Off; Eccleston Homes

Catapult Ventures has announced that Kevin D’Silva has been appointed as a venture partner with its Greater Manchester and Cheshire Life Sciences Fund.

D’Silva, who becomes the fund’s third venture partner, will assess investment opportunities and work with the fund’s smaller investments to help companies successfully grow, with a particular focus on medical devices.

Catapult chief executive Nick Wright said: “Kevin has been known to Catapult for many years and was chairman of two of Catapult’s recent life science exits. His skills and experience add significant gravitas to our specialist life science team in Alderley Park.”

D’Silva said: “I am excited to be joining Catapult Ventures and the GM&C Life Sciences Fund. The team at Catapult are good people to work with and their recent track record is very impressive.”

D’Silva was a founding director of international diagnostic company Ferraris Group, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange. He also created Salusinvest in 2006 to invest in a number of EU and US life science businesses.

::

Environmental consultancy RSK has welcomed three new members to its transport planning team at its Manchester office.

The additions come shortly after the arrival of three others at a time of growth.

Senior transport planner Sarah van de Berg joins the team from Wigan Council, having previously worked as a travel plan officer for Somerset County Council and a transport planner at Motion Consultants in Surrey.

She will be responsible for developing travel plans for large businesses across the North West of England.

Senior transport engineer Graham Walker joins from Waterman Group, bringing with him three decades of experience in transport planning and design.

His experience includes the Oxford Road and Portland Street bus and cycle priority package in Manchester.

Walker will add to the team’s design capabilities by preparing engineering drawings and highway consents for detailed approval, thereby complementing RSK’s overall highways services.

Harriet Wingfield is a recent graduate of the University of Birmingham.

She will use her experience to offer a new perspective on transport planning. Specifically, this will include a greater focus on the use of technology.

She will also be assisting the team with energy-related projects in the North West.

Transport planning team leader Ian Wickett said: “The transport planning team is experiencing continuing growth and we are excited to welcome these new arrivals. With recent commissions, there is great potential for further expansion.

“We are looking forward to what the future holds for the team and for the wider RSK business. The transport planning team is eager to continue its growth with Sarah and Graham’s skills and to have Harriet join our training programme.”

::

Liverpool-based PR agency Boxed Off has appointed graduate Katie Gaffney.

Gaffney, who joins from Brazen, recently graduated from the University of Chester with a PR, marketing and events management degree.

Richard Clein, founding director of Boxed Off said: “I’m thrilled we’ve been able to attract graduates of the calibre of Katie who, despite having just finished University, already has some valuable experience in the industry.

“The agency, which launched in 2013, has doubled in size in the last 12 months working.

“To further showcase the agency’s work across UK, this month sees the launch of a new blog, Blogged On which was Katie’s idea and will be managed by her.”

Gaffney said: “I’m really excited about my new appointment at Boxed Off. This is a fantastic opportunity for me to develop my skills in one of the North West’s fastest growing agencies.

“I look forward to working across a broad range of clients from all over the country which range from major leisure attractions to nationwide businesses.”

::

North West housebuilder, Eccleston Homes, has scaled up its workforce across key areas of the business as part of its next phase of growth.

Following its most successful 12-month period, the housebuilder has recruited a new head of land acquisition, Mark Fillingham, to extend its pipeline of land assets across North West towns and cities.

Bringing nearly 30 years’ land and development knowledge in the residential and energy industries, Fillinghamm joins the company from Elite Homes, where he was responsible for selling residential land.

Kevin Marren, chief executive of Eccleston Homes, said: “We have made substantial progress towards our growth targets in the last three years. This was predominantly owing to strategic land acquisitions, improved sales prices and sound cost control.

“Mark’s added expertise will now allow us to step up the level of live developments. He brings valuable experience and with his assistance, we anticipate an increased presence of our family homes across the region.”

Fillingham added: “We have already identified several opportunities. Customer service remains at the forefront of the company’s ethos, beginning with identifying the best spots in commuter-friendly destinations. I will be working with local authorities to create engaging developments for their residents.”

With Eccleston’s increased live development portfolio, the housebuilder has also added two further site operators, including Antonio Saetta as site manager and Matthew Dingley as assistant site manager. Both operators will initially be based at Eccleston’s largest site, St John’s Gardens.

Head office administration has expanded at the same time, with two team additions, including experienced personal assistant, Helene Monks and Michelle Hynes.

Monks has joined Eccleston as personal assistant to the managing director and office manager from NHS organisation. Hynes brings 15 years’ administration experience in the construction industry.