People on the Move: Equity Release Supermarket; Northern Industrial; Howgate Sable; Redrow; Begbies Traynor

Graham Evans, head of compliance at Birchwood-based equity release advisory organisation, Equity Release Supermarket (ERS), has been appointed the chief examiner for the Level 3 Certificate in Regulated Equity Release (CeRER) at the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF).

Graham will combine these roles as well as being a member of the Equity Release Council Standards Board.

The LIBF announced the changes to its Certificate in Regulated Equity Release (CeRER) this month, with the new exams taking effect in January 2020.

Graham will be joining other leading industry experts as they embed high standards within the study text, and learning outcomes, ensuring the new material covers the ever-changing market requirements and industry priorities.

“I am joining the London Institute of Banking & Finance at an exciting time as they have created learning material specifically to develop a specialist knowledge and skillset in the mortgage advice and equity release sector,” he said.

“As an FCA requirement, it is of paramount importance that the examination fulfils the breadth and depth of this rapidly changing market. We’ve seen tremendous growth in the later life sector over the past few years and it is very important that we equip new advisers and administrators with a more detailed and broader knowledge.”

The ERC announced the launch of its new revised standards this month, which come into effect on January 1, 2020, having agreed that the new standards are clear, fresh and much more relevant for an expanding membership.

Mark Gregory, founder and chief executive at Equity Release Supermarket, said: “It’s always been our policy to recruit the very best in class in order to provide our customers with outstanding financial advice. Graham’s recognition in the industry, plus his new appointment, is reflective of the extremely high calibre of employees we have at Equity Release Supermarket.”

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Michelle Moore has been appointed in a newly-created role as head of sales at Blackburn-based industrial automation spare parts and repair supplier, Northern Industrial.

Northern Industrial is a multi-award-winning provider of new, reconditioned and obsolete parts and repair services, exporting to 146 countries.

Sourcing from more than 1,350 manufacturers, the company covers in excess of 200,000 part numbers and holds approximately £7m in stock.

Michelle Moore

Bringing 13 years’ sales experience, Michelle’s role will see her co-ordinating the end-to-end sales process for customers from across the globe in a huge variety of sectors looking to source spare parts and repairs to keep their businesses up and running.

She said: “Where Northern Industrial have come in the last few years is absolutely phenomenal, so I’m really excited to be joining at this time and helping develop the business even further.

“My role involves supporting business growth by building the customer base and building the customer journey to ensure an all-round service from start to finish.

“The quality of the team and the skills of the engineers here is really quite astounding so we’re looking to build awareness of everything we can offer, on top of being a first port of call for hard-to-find spare parts.”

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Manchester-based executive search firm, Howgate Sable, is preparing for a period of strong investment and growth following a string of key senior hires.

The organisation has strengthened its board with the appointment of a chairman, as well as recruiting a new head of research and an additional search partner to support its growing executive search client base.

Gaurav Batra joins as chairman and brings with him 25 years’ commercial experience having previously operated at board level within the Virgin Group as well as Bibby Line Group.

Gaurav is also chairman of Greater Manchester-based charity, Life Leisure, which operates leisure facilities and focuses on delivering improved health outcomes in communities based on raising activity levels.

He said: “Throughout my career I have learned that, ultimately, a company’s success comes down to the quality of its people. Executive search firms can play a vital role in helping organisations to pull together the best teams and I was attracted by the opportunity to join an innovative, client-focused firm that can realistically aspire to be the leader in this market.”

He added: “Howgate Sable combines deep sector expertise with a passion for delivering a great client experience and result through their innovative and agile approach to search.

From left: Nick Irving, Neil Humphreys, Gaurav Batra, Barry Heald

“The firm has an impressive client roster and the level of repeat business points strongly to the future potential. I look forward to playing my part in the firm’s continued evolution and success.”

Elsewhere in the business, Liz Shay has been appointed as head of research following two decades within the research department for London search firm, The Miles Partnership.

She works across a broad range of c-suite level projects and international assignments, as well as acting as co-chair for the Executive Research Association (ERA), a global forum for talent intelligence and insight professionals.

Dean White has joined as partner having worked within the human capital industry for 13 years. He began his career in retail operations with a leading high street luxury brand before joining Page Executive – part of the FTSE 250 listed organisation, Page Group.

Here, Dean honed his recruitment skills before progressing into managing more specialised, technical search projects for large corporates across a variety of sectors.

Neil Humphreys, partner at Howgate Sable, said: “Our clients put their trust in us to source executives with the ability to deliver positive business impact.

“After 30 years of successfully doing so, it’s time to take things to the next level by further growing our organisation in terms of technology and capability.

“My partners and I are absolutely delighted that we have been able to attract individuals of this calibre to join us to help achieve this.

“It’s an extremely exciting time for the firm and these new appointments are critical to achieve our goals for growth.”

Howgate Sable, which also has offices in London, works with a wide range of businesses to source those capable of driving strategy and achieving business transformation within organisations from industries including transport and aviation, industrial, life sciences and consumer.

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Oliver Bird is sowing the seeds of a successful career in the housebuilding industry after joining Redrow as a graduate trainee.

Oliver, 23, from Tarporley, Cheshire, began the programme with the developer in September after completing a degree in real estate at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.

He started on the prestigious two-year graduate scheme in the land department, before fulfilling the cycle which will see him spending time in a number of different areas, including the technical and construction departments.

He said: “I went for a number of interviews and looked at other schemes before realising that the Redrow programme was by far the right one for me, not least because of the wealth of opportunities it opened up including spending time in different areas rather than limited to just one.

Oliver Bird and Charley Bate

“I saw early, too, that there is chance for progression with Redrow and a number of people I met in the first weeks were celebrating their 10th or 20th anniversaries with the company, which confirms what an aspirational place it is to work.”

Oliver is in the best place, according to Charley Bate, 24, from St Helens, who has been appointed assistant design engineer in the technical department of the Lancashire division after completing the rotational graduate trainee course.

A civil engineering graduate who studied at John Moores University in Liverpool, Charley had his mind set on an engineering job, but he said: “Although I knew I wanted something in engineering, working in other departments made me realise where I fitted in and gave me a greater understanding of the business as a whole, not just my role.”

Steve Greenhalgh, managing director of Redrow Homes (Lancashire), is delighted the company continues to support and encourage young graduates and guide them through training and progression.

“Seeing new graduates coming into the business, learning and thriving, is really satisfying,” he said.

“There is a sense of achievement on our part that we are helping people to develop challenging and rewarding careers for themselves, as well as creating a skilled and loyal workforce that’s committed to creating quality homes.”

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Neil Cronshaw has been appointed by insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor to perform a creditor services role across the North West region.

Neil previously headed up a Lancashire-based practice and has more than 20 years of experience in the sector.

Although primarily based in the Preston office of Begbies Traynor, Neil carries a North West regional remit and will work alongside existing creditor services teams in London and Sheffield.

Neil Cronshaw

His role is to liaise with clients and the insolvency service in order to facilitate formal appointments for Begbies Traynor.

Paul Barber, partner at Begbies Traynor, said: “Neil is an experienced operator in the insolvency industry and someone we are pleased to appoint in order to provide a creditor services role. It means we can secure appointments quickly and effectively in order to maximise potential realisations.

“By working alongside our existing creditor services teams in London and Sheffield we can deliver a joined-up collaborative approach.”

Neil Cronshaw said: “I’m delighted to join Begbies Traynor and I’m looking forward to working with my new colleagues to build upon the existing services we offer nationally to businesses and individuals across the North West region.”