People on the Move: Freshfield; Community Foundations for Lancashire & Merseyside; FDG; Filplastic; British Business Bank

North West-based marketing communications firm, Freshfield, has strengthened its PR and communications team with the appointment of Jacqueline Ballard as content marketing manager.

Originally from Australia, Jacqueline is a qualified marketing specialist and joins Freshfield after working for more than 15 years in industry.

She previously worked in-house as a marketing manager for Synergy Technology.

She will be based in Freshfield’s Preston office working with clients in the legal, accounting, property and public sectors.

Jacqueline said: “This is my first agency role. It combines my skills and experience gained from working in-house in the professional services sector.

“Freshfield is highly regarded as experts in delivering marketing and communication services and the team are great, too.”

Simon Turner, Freshfield managing director, said: “Great content – whether written, visual or motion – is fuelling our successful client programmes and the addition of Jacqueline will strengthen our capabilities.

“Having occupied in-house roles for a number of leading firms, she also brings to Freshfield the valuable insight of the client’s perspective and expectations of the delivery of quality agency services.”

Jacqueline added: “The variety of work is great and it’s the creative culture that I really enjoy at Freshfield. It’s a dream job.”

Headquartered in Winckley Square, Freshfield employs 18 people.

It has divisions in advisory, PR and communications, digital, design and video. It also has an office in Spinningfields, Manchester.

Freshfield is also a founding partner of The Hyperlocal Everywhere Network, a network of independent creative agencies that work in partnership on multi-territory campaigns.

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The Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside (CFLM) welcomes two new trustees to its board, Dennis Mendoros and Carmel Hall.

Dennis Mendoros is the president of MENDO Enterprises and former managing director of Euravia Engineering and Supply.

He qualified as an aeronautical engineer and has more than 30 years’ experience in the international aerospace industry.

He is chairman of the Pendle Vision board, and is also a senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a member of the USA Cost Estimating Society and a non-destructive testing engineer. He also served as a member of the Court of Lancaster University and UCLan.

Dennis Mendoros

In 2002, he was awarded an OBE for services to industry and in 2004 he was commissioned a Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire.

In 2008, he was elected Fellow Royal Aerospace Society. In 2010, he was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire by Her Majesty the Queen.

Dennis said: “The Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside offer a comprehensive and valuable facility to our community and, at the same time, provide a professional and efficient service.

“I am delighted to be part of the Community Foundations as I feel I now have the opportunity to provide a structured and focused support to many local charitable activities.”

Carmel Hall had a career in HR spanning more than 40 years working at both operational and strategic levels.

Former HR director for Alstom Power Services, Carmel has worked in the UK, France and Switzerland and travelled extensively in Europe, India, China and the US supporting businesses, managers and teams on operational human resource matters and change management implementation.

Carmel Hall

She is passionate about people growth and development and has led the implementation of many programmes aimed at improving individual and team performance, including leadership development, performance management, talent management and individual coaching.

Carmel said: “Now I have the time to give to help others I was delighted to join the Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside as it is a great asset in helping local people who need our support.”

Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside chief executive, Rae Brooke, said: “We are delighted that Dennis and Carmel are joining us.

“Both have impressive track records in leadership and bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, experience and passion.

“The board and team are looking forward to working with Dennis and Carmel and to support the Community Foundation’s next phase of growth.”

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Manchester architects, The Fairhursts Design Group (FDG), which recently appointed a new associate director to build on its healthcare offering, has announced the creation of a business development role to help deliver company growth strategies.

It is the first time in FDG’s 122-year history that the practice has had a dedicated member of staff working on the identification of new and existing sector opportunities, establishing and maintaining client relationships, co-ordinating events and general profile-raising, as well as internal marketing initiatives.

Nicola Rudman

Nicola Rudman, FDG’s finance manager of 10 years, has been tasked with the job which will see her split her time equally between finance and business development. The role will cover the North West, but mainly focus on activities in and around Manchester.

Richard Sagar, managing director at FDG, said: “Nicola is very proactive in helping to move FDG forwards at all levels, from arranging staff events to attending functions on behalf of the company.

“In recent years Nicola has become more active in the Manchester property scene developing a number of key relationships and raising the profile of FDG, which is already producing new opportunities.

“We are delighted that she will now spend more of her time in the role that she loves whilst remaining a key part of the finance department.

“The directors thank her for her efforts so far and look forward to working alongside her to shape the future of the business.”

The Fairhursts Design Group opened in Manchester in 1896 and provides architecture, interior design, masterplanning and landscape architecture services.

With a workforce of around 50, FDG has regional offices in Southampton and Cambridge to help deliver projects for clients across the UK.

Schemes of note include the Materials Innovation Factory in Liverpool, the GSK Centre for Sustainable Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, and the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre at Ansty Park, Coventry.

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Filplastic UK is on course to unlock growth potential in North Wales and the North West with the appointment of a new business development manager.

The Yorkshire company has recruited Kerri Shepherd, who brings nearly 20 years of experience in the shelving and racking industry to the role, to cover the region.

According to Paul Taylor, managing director of Filplastic, North Wales and the North West has historically been one of the company’s most productive patches, but in recent years the company has not been able to give the area the attention it deserves.

Now, Filplastic is looking to capitalise on opportunities to grow its presence in the region again with Kerri’s appointment.

Paul said: “We’ve been aware of Kerri for some time and were delighted when we heard she was in the market for a new position. The timing couldn’t have been better.

Kerri Shepherd

“She’s got a great track record in racking and shelving, a great style and a fantastic contacts book, so I think she’ll really help us make the most out of North Wales and the North West.

“Her appointment completes our business development team, which puts us in a great position as we head towards 2019.”

Kerri’s patch extends from Shrewsbury and Telford in the South to Preston, Blackburn and Burnley in the North, and West into Wales.

A resident of Warrington – in the heartland of her patch – Kerri is well acquainted with the North West and best placed to develop new business in the region.

She said she is “absolutely loving” her new role: “I have lots of experience in public sector and in timber,” she said.

“Working with builders’ merchants, I’m selling the same types of shelving and racking, but with different applications. So, the job has some really familiar aspects but also some totally new aspects, which is what makes it so interesting.”

She added that she had started her career in retail, opening up shops in well-known locations, such as the Trafford Centre, so has seen the industry from the other side.

“I’d like to think this gives me a unique perspective and enables me to bring a lot of value to customers and to Filplastic,” Kerri said.

“My strength is building long-term relationships – that is what I’m good at and that is what I will be doing in my new role.”

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The British Business Bank has appointed Geoff Whiteland to a new position as UK network director, North of England and the Midlands.

The British Business Bank – the government-owned economic development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses – is establishing a UK network, with team members based in each of the English regions and the three devolved nations.

The UK network was originally announced as part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy in November 2017, with a remit to identify and help to reduce imbalances in access to finance for smaller businesses across the UK.

The UK network will help enhance business finance ecosystems across the UK, so smaller businesses, wherever they are, can grow and prosper.

It will also help the bank develop a deeper understanding of small business finance markets in all parts of the UK, so that, ultimately, the bank can improve its support to smaller businesses everywhere.

Geoff and his team of five will represent the UK Network across the North of England and the Midlands and will engage closely with business finance stakeholders in these areas.

Geoff Whiteland

Geoff joined the bank in 2015, initially working on the Help to Grow scheme before transitioning to become an originations director within guarantee and wholesale solutions. Prior to joining the bank, Geoff spent 20 years working for UK banks in corporate, SME and structured finance roles.

Judith Hartley, managing director, UK Network, said: “I am delighted to welcome Geoff to the British Business Bank’s new UK network, where he will be able to leverage his existing knowledge of the bank and its programmes.

“Geoff is joining this newly-created team at an exciting stage in its development. I’m confident he will continue to enhance and build further our relationships with key SME access to finance stakeholders in the North of England and the Midlands to help identify and reduce imbalances in access to finance for smaller businesses across those regions.”

Geoff Whiteland said: “I am very happy to be joining the UK network and look forward to building on my existing relationships to promote lasting connections between the British Business Bank and the business finance ecosystem in the North and the Midlands.

“By enhancing these connections with local businesses, their advisors, funders and other intermediaries – as well as public and private partners – we will enable smaller businesses to seek the finance best suited to their needs.”