People on the Move: Moneypenny; Morecrofts; Elan Homes; Jones Homes; Ultimate Visual Solutions

Outsourced communications provider, Moneypenny, has appointed a new business development manager to boost resource within the company’s corporate account management team.

The latest hire signals a strong quarter for the sector and forms part of an ongoing recruitment drive for the company throughout 2019.

Simon Burlison brings with him a wealth of experience in sales and customer service having previously worked at Citation in a similar role.

Jess Pritchard, channel manager-corporate at Wrexham-based Moneypenny, said: “In an increasingly competitive market, making sure you capture every commercial opportunity is essential and our solutions are helping companies to do just that.

“Simon will be instrumental in supporting the needs of our growing division, which provides telephone answering and live chat services to a large number of franchises, professional services firms and private hospitals.”

Simon Burlison said: “I have first-hand experience in helping businesses improve efficiency and grow their bottom line as a result of using technology as a service.

“I was blown away by the work that Moneypenny is doing and knew I had to be a part of this exciting journey. I’m looking forward to helping to build on Moneypenny’s success and light the way for entry into new sectors in future.”

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Liverpool law firm Morecrofts has promoted five fee earners at its offices across Merseyside.

Experienced private client lawyer Michael Lamb, who joined the firm 13 years ago, has been promoted to senior associate solicitor.

Michael Lamb

Meanwhile, family lawyer Eleanor Cockrell, litigation specialist Carly Philp and dispute resolution expert Kate Naylor, who are all based in Liverpool city centre, have each been promoted to the role of associate solicitor.

Clare Kerrigan, who specialises in family law and is based primarily at the firm’s Crosby office, has been promoted to associate chartered legal executive.

The wave of promotions comes as Morecrofts awards four new training contracts to begin over the next 12 months, while former trainee Sarah Day has qualified as a solicitor and been appointed as a solicitor in the employment and HR team.

Managing partner Alison Lobb said: “It’s always fantastic to see our people progress in their careers.

Claire Kerrigan

“Retaining great staff means recognising their value and awarding them for their hard work.”

She added: “We are committed to training and developing our staff, and I am delighted that we are able to award these promotions.

“I am also very pleased that Sarah, who has trained with us and has been with the firm since 2013, has qualified into a role which will further enhance the strength of our employment and HR team.”

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Elan Homes has appointed a new land director and land manager for its Midlands business in support of its expansion plans.

Established in 2008, with its head office in Cheshire, Elan operates across the North West, South West and Midlands regions of England and in Wales.

The company opened a Midlands office in late 2018, having already acquired development sites in Staffordshire and Worcestershire.

To support its continued growth, the business has appointed John Brown as land director for the Midlands. The Nottingham Trent University graduate has 30 years’ experience in land acquisition in the Midlands.

John described joining Elan’s Midlands team as an “exciting opportunity to shape the direction of the company through quality land acquisitions”.

John Brown

He has been joined by land manager Conor Chamberlain, who previously worked for Spitfire.

The Midlands region will explore developing sites of up to 10 hectares situated within an hour’s drive of the regional office in Coleshill – from Shrewsbury in the west to the M1 corridor in the east, Stafford in the north through to Banbury in the south.

In line with Elan’s business plan, the focus is on traditionally-built open market developments providing family housing with a minimum GDV of around £3.5m.

Key to this will be ensuring that sites are located where local infrastructure, transport links, employment and demand supports development.

John, from Shrewsbury, said: “The main challenge is to progress a number of new site opportunities at the same time. We aim to fill a gap in the market by looking at schemes of 20 to 150 units in sustainable locations, providing quality, well designed, good value homes.”

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Jones Homes has appointed a new sales director to help to drive growth across Lancashire and Cumbria.

Carol Barlow joins the company with more than 20 years of experience in sales, having spent 16 years in the new homes industry.

Based at Jones Homes’ Lancashire head office in Lytham St Anne’s, Carol will lead the sales team through a period of expansion, as new developments open across the area.

She said: “I am thrilled to have joined Jones Homes at such a positive time.

“The company celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and continues to go from strength to strength.

Carol Barlow

“In the Lancashire division the land team have been busy sourcing new developments. We are also due to open our first show home in Cumbria next month, at Stonecross Meadows in Kendal.

“Our continued growth will present new opportunities for the sales team, working closely with the construction department to maintain our focus on customer care.

“Having sold and purchased new homes, I understand both sides of the transaction, so I know what our purchasers expect throughout their homebuying journey.

“On a personal level, having spent 16 years as a new homes sales manager, the move up to sales director was the logical next step.

“I am enjoying the challenge and am grateful for the support of the experienced team who have welcomed me to Jones Homes.”

Carol, who lives in Preston, joined the company from Morris Homes, where she was sales manager for five years. She previously spent 11 years at Barratt Homes.

Ralph Bacon, regional director for Jones Homes Lancashire, said: “Carol has already become a valued member of the senior team at Jones Homes. Her focus on the customer and empathetic approach to meeting their needs is a real strength, which will become increasingly important as we continue our expansion.”

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Burnley-based visual display experts Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) has recruited a representative in Central and Eastern Europe to take advantage of the region’s fast-growing security markets.

Pawel Religa has a wealth of experience in the AV sector, with previous employers including Edbak. He will be based in Lublin, Poland, but will cover Russia and other key parts of the European mainland.

He will focus on selling the UVS Lucidity brand of video wall controller and control software, which fills a gap in the market for security projects which do not require the full functionality of high-end solutions.

Steve Murphy, managing director of UVS, which is based at the Business First Burnley Business Centre, said: “Pawel will be largely based in Poland, where business is increasing, unemployment is down and the amount of investment in the country means many Polish businesses are flourishing and people who left the country in search of better opportunities are returning.

Pawel, left, with Steve Murphy

“We have had a long-standing relationship with Pawel and we know he has very good contacts in the market, so he is a great addition to the UVS team and we look to target the whole Central and Eastern Europe region.”

The Lucidity brand is aimed at clients who require a solution where full command and control components are not needed. The range is available from UVS to AV system integrators for resale to their end clients.

UVS, formerly eyevis UK, provides video wall displays and audio visual solutions to a range of clients across the UK.

It is led by four senior colleagues who, between them, have more than 70 years’ combined Audio Visual, Control Room and Visual Solutions experience.

It has also opened a new London demonstration venue at Woburn Place, a short walk from Euston Station, to cope with increased demand for its technology.

Eyevis UK changed its name to Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) last September following the acquisition of eyevis GmbH by the Leyard group.

The rebranding has allowed the company to offer an expanded range of products and services and remain at the forefront of providing turnkey solutions for all types of audio visual and visual display applications.