People on the move: Training Strategies; ICE North West; Hilary Meredith Solicitors; UHY Hacker Young; FDR Law

From left: Rhodri Andrews, Phil Herridge, Darren Dunning, Nina Soni

Fast-growing Merseyside training business Training Strategies has unveiled four senior hires as it beefs up its executive team.

Just months after moving into new headquarters in Bootle, the firm has recruited Rhodri Andrews as marketing director, Phil Herridge as sales director, Nina Soni, who is the new apprenticeships account manager, and content and social media executive Darren Dunning.

Training Strategies has established itself as a key player in offering life chances to young people and currently has more than 1,000 apprentices on its books.

Now in its 10th year, the firm can demonstrate its commitment to quality training. More than 80% of its learners successfully complete their apprenticeships – well above the national average.

Training Strategies has also established an impressive track record in its pre-employment programmes, designed to get people back into the workplace, with more than 94% achieving their qualification and in excess of 60% moving into employment.

Earlier this year it relocated its headquarters from Aintree to Bootle to accommodate current and projected growth and it now employs more than 60 people at the site, close to Bootle Oriel Road station.

Co-founder, Matt Lynch, said: “We take what we do here seriously. Those on our apprenticeship and employment programmes are real flesh and blood people and we are in a position where we can help them to transform their lives.

“To deliver that effectively and consistently we need the best people within our organisation.

“We already have a fantastic team here and bringing Rhodri, Phil, Nina and Darren on board makes it even stronger.

“We have lofty plans over the next six months and we’re confident now that we have the strongest possible team in place to deliver on those ambitions.”

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The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North West has appointed a new regional director, Emma Antrobus, who brings with her a high level of expertise within the transport infrastructure sector, having successfully lobbied to bring greater rail investment to the region.

Emma has built a career on engaging and managing stakeholders across a variety of engineering projects and initiatives, including HS2 and the Northern Hub rail project.

As regional director of ICE North West she will champion the vital role civil engineers play in the region’s continued economic success to both Government and business.

Emma Antrobus

Speaking about her appointment, Emma said: “The industry is changing as the pace of digital transformation increases and this offers a range of interesting and challenging roles.

“We are highlighting the many and varied opportunities available and at the same time, need to improve diversity levels in both gender and background within the profession.

“I want to focus on attracting young people into engineering, especially women, at all levels. It’s not all about hard hats and hi-vis jackets.”

Wendy Blundell, ICE director of UK regions, said: “Emma brings a wealth of relevant experience and I have no doubt that she will help put ICE North West, and its members, at the forefront of regional issues and beyond.”

Prior to her appointment, Emma spent 18 years as regional manager of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, including a secondment to spearhead the North West Rail Campaign to lobby for Northern Hub rail project – designed to stimulate economic growth by improving rail connectivity.

Emma is a trustee of six schools in Manchester, combining her business experience with a passion for education to help improve pupils’ life chances.

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Hilary Meredith Solicitors in Wilmslow has promoted military specialist Simon Quinn to partner and head of military claims (North).

Simon joined in 2009 and was made an associate in 2014.

During his time at the firm he has developed a particular specialism in non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) claims, sometimes referred to as ‘trench foot’, recently securing one of the highest settlements of its kind in the case of Soldier D v MoD, achieving a settlement more than £800,000.

In addition to his promotion at Hilary Meredith Solicitors, Simon was recently voted in as secretary of APIL’s military special interest group, which was founded by Hilary Meredith in 1992.

Simon Quinn

Congratulating Simon, Hilary Meredith, chair of Hilary Meredith Solicitors, said: “This promotion reflects Simon’s hard work, tenacity and talent.

“He has had phenomenal success in all areas, but particularly with NFCI claims.

“As a partner and head of military claims (North) he has an important role to play in the ongoing success of the business.”

Simon said: “I’m delighted to take on this new role and look forward to playing my part in further strengthening our position as the ‘go to’ law firm for Armed Forces service personnel and veterans.”

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UHY Hacker Young Manchester are delighted to announce the appointment of former BDO partner, Tracey Pye, to head up its turnaround and recovery service in the North-West.

Tracey, who previously ran an independent boutique advisory company delivering transformation solutions for stakeholders and management, has more than 20 years’ restructuring experience working with the likes of PWC and BDO.

She specialises in corporate restructuring and insolvency, cash and working capital, strategy reviews and turnaround and performance improvement and cost reduction.

She has worked across a wide variety of complex clients and sectors including retail, automotive, hospitality and professional services.

From its Manchester office UHY Hacker Young offers a wide range of financial turnaround and business recovery services from advisory to formal insolvency procedures, across a number of sectors.

Commenting on her appointment, Tracey said: “I am delighted to join UHY in Manchester and hope to make a significant contribution to the firm’s growth and continued success.”

Managing partner, Mark Robertson, said: “It’s extremely rare that someone with Tracey’s wealth of knowledge and experience becomes available. Her appointment will enable us to continue to develop and grow our business recovery and insolvency presence across the North West market.”

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Full service law firm, FDR Law has announced the expansion of the new build legal team.

The new department encompasses the existing plot purchases legal team that has delivered residential conveyancing services to people buying new build properties across the UK for many years.

In addition, the new build team, headed up by Chris Illingworth, senior associate solicitor, will work with the FDR Law real estate team to provide builders and housing developers with legal services from land acquisition stage to property sales.

Chris Illingworth said: “We pride ourselves at FDR Law on continually delivering a good quality service to all our conveyancing clients.

“The legal requirements for a new build property are more complex than that of an existing property, and the individual teams have demonstrated time and time again that they have the skills and expertise required.

“The expansion to the new build team and working more closely with our commercial teams only strengthens our commitment and service offering in this sector.”

Chris Illingworth

The new build team will operate from the FDR Law commercial offices on Bold Street, in Warrington, providing national support.

Commenting on the development, chief executive Mark Lockett said: “The demand for our services in the residential conveyancing and commercial property has grown substantially and is part down to the Government initiatives to increase the production of the number of new homes built in the UK each year.

“Expanding our existing plot team into the new build department means we are better placed to support our house building clients from land purchase to house sale and private clients buying new homes.”

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