People on the Move: CG; Liberty; Pierce; Hotfoot Design; NVM Private Equity

CG managing partner Stacey Turner, left, and Louise Myers with Andy Dunn

Lancashire law firm CG has appointed Andy Dunn as their new client relationship director.

Andy joins the fast-expanding Lancashire legal practice from financial services giant Lombard, where he held a similar role.

“Andy is a dynamic and experienced professional and will help bring a keen strategic focus and drive to business development,” said Stacey Turner, who is the joint managing partner with Louise Myers.

“His CV is impressive and he has a host of contacts in the North West business community that will help accelerate the growth of the firm.

“This appointment represents a significant step for the business. To date we have been successful thanks to organic growth, but Andy will be able to put his knowledge and energy into developing new markets and business for us.”

Under Stacey and Louise Myers’ leadership CG has taken a fresh approach to the legal sector and the pair have expanded the firm’s services offering to include corporate, commercial, banking and finance, business recovery, commercial property and employment law.

CG now advises a number of well-known and established business organisations from across the UK.

The Chorley-based team has become known for offering bespoke, commercial solution-focused advice and practical support, which was part of the appeal for Andy.

He said: “I have got to know the business well over recent months and have been hugely impressed by the people, their vision and ambition.

“It’s good to be coming into a business when it is at a relatively early stage of its development and I believe we can be exceptionally successful. It has a very exciting future and I’m happy to be part of it.”

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Property services firms, Liberty Group, has appointed Ray Jones as its new group managing director to lead the company’s continued growth.

Jones, who joins Liberty from Amey, where he was business director, brings more than 15 years’ experience working across the transport, utilities, health, property and engineering sectors.

He believes that Liberty, which has grown by 20% and secured 27 contracts worth more than £70m in 2018, is uniquely positioned to support clients who are dealing with a rapidly evolving marketplace – providing a breadth of services that is driving innovation and opening up new markets.

Ray Jones

“I’m delighted to be joining this vibrant organisation at what is a hugely exciting time in its growth and development,” said Jones.

“Liberty is already enjoying growth in its core markets and expanding its offer into new areas. We are proving to be an ideal partner for our clients, bringing the scale and range of services to meet their needs, but also the agility to adapt to change and drive innovation.”

He added: “I am confident that by building on the strong foundations Liberty has in place across quality, efficiency and customer care and by striving for excellence in each of these areas, we will delight existing clients and attract new ones. My ambition for Liberty is routed in success for all.”

Liberty, which has its headquarters in Liverpool and 10 offices across the country, employs nearly 1,000 staff.

It is a multi-disciplinary property services specialist offering market-leading expertise in gas, heating and electrical installations, building maintenance and renewable energies to clients nationwide.

All profits from Liberty are used by the company’s investor, ForViva, to help transform communities and improve lives.

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Lancashire-based accountancy and business advisory group, Pierce, has appointed David Wadman to the role of online services advisor.

David joins the Blackburn-based firm as a key member of the online team and will be working with companies across Lancashire to prepare them ahead of making tax digital, which will be become mandatory for businesses with a turnover above £85,000 from April 2019.

The appointment comes at a time of growth for the online services team at Pierce as the development of technology is improving the way accountants work.

Information is now made available to clients in real time, meaning businesses can keep a close eye on their expenditure.

David Wadman

David started his accountancy career as an apprentice studying the AAT qualification before making a career change to be a support worker.

After leaving due to government contract changes, David became a warehouse supervisor to self-fund his way back into accountancy and he has five years’ experience working in the industry.

David said: “I’m delighted to be joining Pierce at such a critical time for the digital team.

“A lot of businesses have to change their processes for the introduction of Making Tax Digital. I’m really looking forward to helping clients prepare for this by providing them with solutions that match their specific business requirements.

“I chose Pierce knowing their reputation and immense skills in numerous areas of finance. I was really impressed with how the company invests in their employee development and length of service.”

Margaret Scott, manager of online services at Pierce, said: “With Making Tax Digital coming into force in April, it’s a very busy time for our online team.

“In order to provide the best possible service to our clients, we need the very best people. David’s experience, can-do attitude and approachable manner means he is a great addition to have on board and an asset to our team.”

Making Tax Digital will commence in April 2019 for all VAT registered entities with a turnover above £85,000.

It will extend to other areas of tax, eg self-assessment tax returns, in April 2020. This is the beginning of a digital future within accountancy.

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Hotfoot Design, the creative agency based in Lancaster, has appointed two new specialists to join its team, following a series of client wins.

Ellys Bagnall, former Leeds Beckett University public relations and journalism student, joins Hotfoot as marketing associate.

Having previously worked in digital marketing for the National Trust, Ellys will be tasked with creating engaging content for clients and supporting with the marketing of Hotfoot’s recently-launched online gift voucher platform, Vouch.

Ellys Bagnall

Emily Fell has also joined Hotfoot as graphic designer. Emily brings experience in the hospitality and leisure sector to her new role, and will support the senior design team in creating brand identities and print design across the agency’s client portfolio.

The new appointments takes Hotfoot’s team to more than 15 specialists working across a variety of sectors, including hospitality and leisure, luxury retail, B2B and tech.

Emily Fell

Charlie Haywood, creative director and founder of Hotfoot Design, said: “We’re very happy to have Ellys and Emily join us.

“We’re careful to bring people on board who have skills and specialisms that add real value to our clients, to help them grow and become even more successful – Emily and Ellys will do just that.”

Hotfoot Design’s recent client wins include Bowker, Breathing Space, Cornthwaite Group, Lakeland Kitchens, and the Plough at Lupton.

The agency has also just launched Vouch, a website enabling users to discover gift voucher experiences from a variety of businesses in Lancashire and the surrounding counties, following the successful launch of gift voucher platform Regalo two years ago.

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NVM Private Equity continues to strengthen its investment team with the recruitment of Carmine Circelli.

NVM is building a dedicated and focused VCT team to develop the business in a changed environment by bringing in people with experience in new, fast-emerging technology, finance and life science sectors.

Carmine is based in NVM’s Manchester office and is responsible for identifying investment opportunities in the North West and Wales, progressing NVM’s investments from origination, and supporting portfolio companies as they grow.

He joined NVM from the Development Bank of Wales’ technology ventures team, where he invested in early-stage businesses and has a First-class BSc honours degree in Pharmacology with Industrial Experience and a PhD in Cardiovascular Medicine from the University of Manchester.

Carmine Circelli

NVM have been building a new sector-diverse portfolio at a time when the business environment is evolving more quickly than ever.

Since 2015 it has invested £64m in 22 innovative companies with exciting growth potential and over the past 12 months nine new investments have been completed.

NVM’s investment partner Charlie Winward said. “We have invested considerable time and resources in building a dedicated and focused VCT team.”

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