People on the Move: Baldwins; CityBlock; Cheshire East Council; Slater Heelis; Clothes2Order
North West-based national accountancy and business advisory firm Baldwins has bolstered its leadership team with a senior promotion.
The CogitalGroup company, which has a strong North West presence including an office in Ship Canal House, King Street, Manchester, has promoted director Nicola Clark to partner within the advisory, insolvency and restructuring team to continue to develop and enhance its services.
Credited for her outstanding leadership attributes, focus, drive and high levels of client service, Nicola’s new role in the team will see her continuing to work alongside colleagues in the advisory services group and will lead and develop Baldwins’ North West presence in her specialist area.
Nicola, who has more than 25 years of experience within the industry, started her career in London and has worked within the Baldwins Group in the North West for more than 15 years.
She said: “I’m over the moon to have been appointed as a partner at Baldwins. I thoroughly enjoy my role and to have the opportunity to work and share knowledge with the advisory teams within banking and finance, corporate finance, advisory tax and forensics.
“It is a rewarding role to be able to advise businesses across the region when they find themselves in uncertain and difficult times. I’m really looking forward to my future here with Baldwins.”
This promotion is key to the continuing success of Baldwins within the North West, assisting businesses to achieve their goals and aspirations.
Mark Getliffe, restructuring partner of Baldwins, said: “Nicola is a key member of the UK restructuring insolvency and advisory team, which now comprises over 100 talented people. She has shown her excellent leadership and sales skills throughout her career here at Baldwins, so I’m thrilled to see her make partner.
“We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of service to our clients across the North West and our ever-growing skilled, hard-working team are here to assist local companies in any way they can.”
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Lancaster-based family-owned student accommodation developer, CityBlock, has appointed Deborah Ross as its new group finance director.
A Chartered Management Accountant for more than 20 years, Deborah previously took charge of UK finance and HR operations at the Morecambe-based Italian-owned, GVS Filter Technology.
Her success in this role was recognised at a global level by the 2,700 strong business when she achieved the prestigious 2018 Worldwide Best Financial Controller Award.
Having also previously worked for organisations including Furmanite International, Kendal College, and BAE Systems, Ross brings wide-ranging industry experience to CityBlock which specialises in investing, developing, and managing purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sites across the UK.
She said: “Working in property and student accommodation represents an exciting step change for me personally. The fact that CityBlock is a successful Lancashire homegrown business with ambitions to continue growing across the UK has been a major draw to this role.
“It’s a real pleasure to join a fabulous team with solid ambition and I’m looking forward to integrating my experience of working for major corporates to enable CityBlock to further grow their property portfolio and look to make impact at both a regional and national level.”
Deborah Ross
Chief executive Trevor Bargh said: “2020 will be another milestone year for our business and we have a number of exciting projects in the pipeline including our move into private residential development.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to bring Deborah on board at this time, so that we can continue delivering on our high standards and look to move the business forward with the added value of skills Deborah has gained working across a range of industries including defence, manufacturing, engineering and oil & gas.
“She will be a great addition to the team and brings the right balance between a strong commercial outlook and ensuring our residents and accommodation provision continue to be at the front and centre of our values and delivery.”
Established in 2002, CityBlock Group specialises in providing quality ensuite student accommodation at locations across the country including Lancaster, Durham and Reading.
The business owns and manages several prominent student accommodation sites which together accommodate more than 4,000 students from in excess of 52 different countries, with more than half of their students being international.
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Cllr Kathryn Flavell has been announced as Cheshire East Council’s cabinet member for children and families.
Cllr Flavell is ward member for Sandbach, Elworth and has served as deputy cabinet member for children and families and as a member of the corporate parenting committee.
Cllr Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “I am very grateful to Cllr Flavell for stepping forward into this important role. Kathryn worked closely with the previous cabinet member, the late and much missed Cllr Dorothy Flude, and I know that she is passionate about the welfare and wellbeing of our children and families.”
Cllr Flavell said: “The council plays a crucial role in supporting and helping to shape the lives of children in Cheshire East. Our ambition is for every child and young person to have the best start in life, to be safe, happy, healthy and to reach their full potential.
Cllr Kathryn Flavell
“To this end, the council works in close partnership with schools, health agencies, adopters, foster carers, community groups, police and other partners as well as with children and families directly.
“I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the late Dorothy Flude and her absolute commitment to improving the lives of all our children. I am both honoured and humbled to be stepping into the shoes of such a hardworking and well-respected councillor. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and will do my very best to help deliver our ambition.
“I would especially like to thank the leader, my cabinet colleagues and officers for supporting me in this new role.”
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North West law firm Slater Heelis has appointed Sally Tomlinson as a solicitor in its employment and HR team.
Sally, who previously worked at a niche commercial law firm in Manchester city centre, specialises in non-contentious issues such as corporate support work, TUPE-related advice, outsourcing and consultancy agreements, and new contracts of employment and service agreements.
She has a wide range of experience in employment law including advising on workplace issues from recruitment through to dismissal, enforcement of post-termination restrictions, complex executive exits and employment status issues.
Managing partner, Chris Bishop, said: “We’re excited to have Sally on board and are sure she’ll be a fantastic addition. Sally has great experience in non-contentious employment matters, and we’re confident she will help further strengthen the employment and HR team.
Sally Tomlinson
“2020 is already shaping up to be a strong year for the firm and with some key appointments we’re looking to hit the ground running.”
Sally said: “I’m thrilled to be joining a forward-thinking firm who have a real passion for their work. I can’t wait to get going and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Slater Heelis is a full-service law firm with offices in Sale, Timperley and Manchester city centre offering a range of legal services including, corporate, employment, personal injury, residential and commercial property, family law and private client. The firm acts for clients across the UK and internationally.
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Clothes2order has recruited a sales director to help shape the next phase of its expansion as it looks to double in size.
Mark Thomas has more than 35 years’ experience in the workwear and uniforms industry, having previously worked at other major players including Lyreco and Arco.
Clothes2order creates custom branded clothing for businesses, teams and communities by printing or embroidering logos and designs on to T-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, jackets, caps and other items.
It operates from a state-of-the-art production and distribution facility in Trafford Park, Greater Manchester, where it employs 160 staff.
The company supplies customers across the UK and in more than 35 countries and has seen revenues soar from £4.4m in 2013 to more than £13m, with plans to double in size over the next few years.
Mark Thomas
In a newly-created role, Mark leads the company’s customer service and account management departments and its recently-expanded team of field sales specialists, who together provide one-to-one technical, design and product selection support to clients.
He said: “I am hugely excited by the opportunity to help shape the next stage in the company’s development.
“Its vision and values chime with mine, in putting customer satisfaction ahead of short-term profit, maintaining the highest quality standards and offering ethically and responsibly-sourced products.
“We are in an enviable position at the forefront of our industry, having invested heavily in recent years in cutting-edge, eco-friendly garment customisation and printing technology, and we are looking to grow our product range to further broaden our customer base in the coming years.”
Managing director Sam Jones said: “Mark has extensive experience in the sector and a proven track record of success. He’s an excellent leader and motivator and has vast category knowledge which makes him the ideal person for this role.
“His appointment to this new position reflects our ongoing investment in the senior management team charged with delivering significant growth in the coming years.”
