People on the Move: CPL Online; Gorilla Accounting; Fletchers Solicitors; Burys Solicitors; Tidy Planet

CPL Online, the Birkenhead-based digital learning and team engagement tools experts, has appointed Martin Hilton as director of learning and education.

Hilton will work internally with an expanded learning and development team to further develop CPL’s suite of content, courses and tools.

Having spent the whole of his career to date in the hospitality industry, Martin has extensive experience that will help CPL continue to develop its industry solutions.

His experience involves executive pub retailing, co-founding Pure Craft Bars, and more latterly working in the world of academia as educator at Leeds Beckett University.

He said: “I am excited to be a part of our challenge to provide blended opportunities on learning and training to our clients and to think of blended training as not just being a blend of digital and face-to-face training but indeed an opportunity to blend different medias.

“I look forward to using blends such as video conferences, podcasts, webinars, online references, gamification, simulation and even artificial intelligence with traditional e-learning and to do so in a way that best solves both our clients’ objectives and maximises learning for our learners. I am looking forward to putting these into practise with my new team at CPL.”

The appointment comes at a time of change at CPL Online, after CGA, the global food and drink data and research consultancy, acquired CPL Training Group in June.

Jon Collins executive chairman at CPL, said: “CPL is a proud part of the hospitality industry, not just a supplier to it. Thus, when we identified an opportunity to invest further in our content, our priority was to find someone as passionate about our industry as we are.

“We are hugely excited at the new capabilities Martin brings to CPL – leading a talented team as we push ahead with industry-leading content in new topic areas and delivery methods.”

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Bolton-based contractor accountancy firm, Gorilla Accounting, recently expanded its team taking on three new trainee accountants who are working towards the AAT accounting qualification.

These recent additions now take the total staff count to more than 42. This recruitment drive is continuing, and the business anticipates having around 60 people in the team by this Christmas.

Daniel Fallows

Gorilla’s director, Daniel Fallows, said: “As a Bolton-based business we felt it was important for Gorilla to invest in talent in the local area. Looking at the growth of the business over the last few years, we expect our team size to continue with healthy growth.

“Gorilla is an accountancy firm with a difference. With a technology-led approach and quirky branding, it’s helped them stand out from the crowd.”

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Fletchers Solicitors, which has offices in Southport and Manchester, has appointed a director of digital and disruption to lead a major digital transformation of the business.

James Alexander, who has previously held digital consulting roles at the likes of Accenture, will be leading a team of developers, designers, and digital innovators to build a disruption lab working out of St James’ Tower in Manchester.

In the newly-created role, James will be looking at how existing internal processes can be improved using technology in order to drive greater efficiency and productivity throughout the business.

He will also be striving to improve Fletchers’ digital customer experience, in addition to exploring how the business can start monetising digital innovation in its own right.

James’ hire, coupled with the development of the disruption lab, is one of Fletchers’ first steps towards its new company vision for 2025.

James Alexander

The vision will see Fletchers investing in the research and development of innovative technology, such as new AI systems to automate certain tasks currently performed by solicitors, in order to deliver a superior level of service to its customers and help to revolutionise the future of the legal sector as a whole.

James said: “Fletchers’ CEO Ed Fletcher and COO Alex Hatchman have recognised that the legal sector is ripe for technological innovation, and that there is the scope to make significant changes both internally and in terms of the services we provide for our customers.

“I am really looking forward to putting together a talented, forward-thinking team to help run the disruption lab, where we will have the opportunity to make tangible differences to the business.”

Chief executive Ed Fletcher said: “Today, it is crucial for law firms to deliver an exceptional tech and customer proposition. With that in mind, we are investing in a dedicated team to continually devise such ideas and ensure they are seamlessly delivered.

“I am in no doubt James’ team will be instrumental in taking the firm forwards as we grow over the next five years.”

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Lancashire-based law firm, Burys Solicitors, has doubled in size in the past six months, leading to relocation to larger premises in the Ribble Valley and the recruitment of five new staff members.

Burys moved to Manor Court, near Ribchester, from former offices in Balderstone. In response to client demand, the firm has also added residential conveyancing to its offering of wills, probate, lasting power of attorney and court of protection services.

Business development manager Aimee Gannon joined the team in June and will drive further growth opportunities for the firm. Aimee previously gained 14 years’ experience working for The Department for Constitutional Affairs and worked as business development manager for a leading law firm in Burnley.

Trainee solicitor Melissa Cooper is studying for her postgraduate in legal practice and was talent-spotted while under the tutelage of company director, Joanne Bury, who also lectures degree level students at University Centre at Blackburn College.

From left: Tara Place, Tracey Burgess, Jennie Ingham, Joanne Bury, Aimee Gannon, Melissa Cooper

Jennie Ingham, trainee solicitor, completed her law conversion and legal practice course Masters in Leeds at the University of Law and previously studied as an undergraduate in criminology and psychology. Prior to joining Burys, Jennie worked in conveyancing and employment law and volunteered for a legal charity.

Practice manager, Tracey Burgess, brings more than 25 years’ office experience working within legal, education and health sectors.

Paralegal Tara Place joins the firm on a training contract and will gain valuable workplace experience while continuing her studies at UCLAN. She is due to complete her LPC in 2021.

Solicitor and company director, Joanne Bury, established the firm in 2013. She said: “We are growing organically through recommendations and a passion to do more for our clients. The conveyancing service was introduced following requests from our clients to be there for them and their loved ones at all stressful life events – from divorce through to bereavement, and now whilst moving house.

“All members of the team, myself included, have endured personal loss and difficult life experiences, and understand how hard it can be to manage paperwork during times of upheaval.

“With over 70 years’ specialist experience on the team, the level of expertise at Burys means that we help things go as smoothly as possible from start to finish, which means so much to our customers.”

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Macclesfield-based Tidy Planet has brought Richard Hart on board as a project engineer, to support the company through a sustained period of growth and increased client enquiries.

Richard joins the organic waste solutions company with more than 30 years’ experience working within the engineering sector – managing multimillion-pound projects – and will be heading up medium and large-scale projects in both of the business’s specialist composting and waste-to-energy (WtE) divisions.

Continued growth and an upsurge in large-scale, technical enquiries are two key drivers behind the company’s recruitment drive.

Tidy Planet’s director, James Tyler, said: “The recent acceleration of projects and enquiries we’ve seen in Europe, Scandinavia and Asia means we need to continue investing in skilled personnel in order to effectively cope with demand and drive the business forward.

Richard Hart

“With lots in the headlines about the circular economy, going ‘green’ and waste export restrictions, more companies than ever are looking to harness their waste as a valuable resource, and are turning to composting or WtE solutions to help them achieve this.

“Richard will play a crucial role in managing the ‘conception-to-completion’ process of our UK and international contracts – from liaising with customers to determine their requirements, to managing all of the technical activities – to ensure complete quality and accuracy.”

The news follows Tidy Planet’s recent expansion into Scandinavia, when the firm appointed its first Norwegian distributor, and the news of its recent oil and gas project win in the Sahara Desert.