People on the Move: BDP; Black Cat Building Consultancy; The Landing; Glaisyers Solicitors; PHX Training
Architecture, engineering and design firm BDP has appointed Rachel Bishop to lead the expanding interior design team at its Manchester studio.
BDP chair of design and head of workplace, Mark Simpson, said: “Rachel’s appointment is very much a strategic hire for us, we had been wanting to strengthen our capability for some time and wanted to make the right appointment. We are sure we have done that.
“Rachel has a strong reputation in the North and with her expertise we aim to build on the Manchester studio’s recent record of interior design awards and winning major projects.”
Rachel started her career at Foster+Partners in London and joins BDP from her role as project director at the Manchester office of architects tp bennett, where she spent five years delivering major office schemes for Manchester clients including real estate advisors CBRE, law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and property developer Bruntwood.
Prior to joining tp bennett, Rachel was senior interior designer/project leader for Sydney-based architects, Crone Partners, leading interior projects for museums, community facilities, offices and housing. Before this she spent four years at Manchester-based architecture and planning firm, Sheppard Robson.
Her interior design work has won Rachel multiple awards, including for Interior Design Project over £1m at the 2018 Northern Design Awards for her work for CBRE.
She has also been shortlisted for other accolades.
Rachel said: “I am delighted to be joining such a dynamic interdisciplinary practice with a prolific portfolio of work. It is an exciting time for the Manchester studio and I look forward to building on the work of the already established team.”
BDP is currently working on a number of major projects in the city and across the North, including the design of Eversheds Sutherland’s new premises at Two New Bailey Square. Other projects include those for Manchester Metropolitan University, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Manchester’s MECD building and the Christie Paterson Laboratories.
The practice also recently completed PwC’s 90,000 sq ft offices at No1 Spinningfields which last year won the regional BCO award for best workplace fit out.
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Manchester-based Black Cat Building Consultancy is continuing to grow its London offering following continued success in Manchester and Bristol.
Black Cat, who has taken offices adjacent to the iconic Borough Market, has recruited again from familiar grounds with two more directors from CBRE who each offer a wealth of experience.
Simon Wilmot-Wilkinson is the former head of CBRE’s Southampton building surveying division and he has teamed up with Spencer Latham, formerly of CBRE’s City office.
Simon Wilmot-Wilkinson
The pair will provide building surveying and project management services, working alongside former colleagues Diego Alves and Lucia Bravo who head up Black Cat’s façade consultancy team.
Simon and Spencer have both spoken of the draw of Black Cat’s ambitions, and their flexible and open approach to working as an independent business within the commercial property world.
Simon said: “Black Cat are a little bit different. Whilst the client remains the centre of our focus, the business ensures that the work/life balance of the team is also a priority, with forward-thinking policies around flexible working and the day-to-day environment.
“Personally, I believe a happy surveyor offers a better service to clients and as a result I jumped at the opportunity to join the team.”
Spencer Latham
Spencer said: “I am truly looking forward to being part of the expansion of Black Cat’s team and the newly-established London Office. It’s refreshing to be part of a team with aligned attitudes and ambitions.”
Founding director, Ben Golby, said: “Our London office marks another exciting step forward for the company and Simon and Spencer are crucial to our success and national platform.
“Their experience, professionalism and dedication are admirable and, most importantly, they are team players aligned to the way we work with our clients.”
Black Cat is currently project managing upwards of £40m of active instructions around the UK and is currently engaged on around £28m of dilapidations claims acting for Landlords and occupiers.
Its market presence now extends to a team of 20 operating from offices in Manchester, Bristol and London, and the firm is continuing to expand as it approaches its fifth year in business.
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The Landing, MediaCityUK’s tech hub specialising in high growth tech start-ups and scale-ups, has appointed Natalie Jameson – a leading technology changemaker and best-selling author – as its innovation manager to help further foster opportunities for innovation with The Landing’s community of businesses.
The newly-created role will see Jameson focus on driving diversity and digital innovation.
She will be working to bring together civic leaders, citizens, tech entrepreneurs and educators to help create a more inclusive and sustainable digital eco-system at The Landing and within the region.
Natalie’s background includes acquisitions funding, founding and successfully exiting a number of businesses and she was formerly in a senior role within Siemens, where she gained insight into how technology was changing the future of work and its implications for women’s equality and society as a whole.
She has also co-authored a number of Amazon bestseller list books on innovation, sustainable industrialisation and women in business, including a collaboration entitled ‘Legacy: The Sustainable Development Goals in Action’, which was co-authored with 51 other changemakers and dedicated to global change through business.
Natalie Jameson
The Landing is a technology enterprise incubator for high-growth companies at the heart of MediaCityUK and is home to the UK’s first 5G-enabled immersive lab, which offers a wide range of AR, VR and mixed reality technologies, and to Vodafone’s 5G testbed.
In her role as innovation manager, Natalie will be continuing The Landing’s recent work around creating and leading think tanks, accelerators and workshops as well as other initiatives in conjunction with local goverrnment, large employer organisations and technology-led businesses.
Natalie said: “I’m hugely excited by the potential for technologies like artificial intelligence to improve health, make us safer, and drive jobs for the region and how my new role at The Landing will contribute towards that.
“Technology innovators currently don’t represent society as a whole, so we need to increase inclusivity and participation of women and other under-represented groups in the design and development of these technologies to ensure solutions meet everyone’s needs and reflect the way we live our lives.”
She added: “Digital technology has the potential to solve some of the world’s biggest societal, environmental and economic issues and I’m looking forward to bringing together all of my experience in my role at The Landing and creating some exciting opportunities for innovation and diversity for everyone’s benefit.”
Jon Corner, The Landing chief executive, said: “We are delighted that Natalie Jameson has joined us. She has an impressive portfolio career spanning 20 years, with outstanding experience in the combined areas of innovation, diversity and technology for social good.
“We have unparalleled facilities and a commitment to innovation, and we’re confident that Natalie will be a great addition to the team here. The drive towards diversity and equality in tech is essential and we look forward to the opportunities we can all create together.”
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Glaisyers Solicitors has appointed Tom Simpson as the new head of its fast-growing residential property department.
Although primarily known as a business-to-business firm, Glaisyers has a strong reputation in the field of residential property transactions and Mr Simpson will manage a team of seven based at the firm’s Manchester city centre headquarters.
Prior to joining Glaisyers, Mr Simpson spent eight years at the East Manchester firm Harold Stock & Co, qualifying there in 2013 and progressing to the position of head of residential property. He spent five years as head of department.
In addition to standard freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, Mr Simpson’s specialist areas include investment properties, high-value properties, new-build developments and homes of multiple occupancy. He also has expertise in remortgaging and transfers of equity, including transfers as part of matrimonial proceedings.
Tom Simpson
David Marlor, equity partner, said: “Tom is a great lawyer who understands not only the complex legal points he will need to advise his team on, but also the importance of communication and understanding the emotional investment clients make in property transactions.
“Managing expectations and keeping all parties focused on the bigger picture is one of the most important elements of conveyancing. Tom understands this well and will ensure the whole team continues to work together pragmatically and proactively to deliver the results clients want.”
In late 2018 Glaisyers underwent a management buy-in led by equity partners David Jones and David Marlor, backed by the international professional services group ETL Global. The Manchester and London-based firm increased its headcount by 25% in 2019 and now employs more than 75 people.
Tom Simpson said: “After eight years it was time for a new challenge and it is fantastic to be working in the city centre for an ambitious firm that is clearly going places. Having watched Glaisyers’ recent growth I jumped at the chance to join them at such an exciting time.”
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Regional training provider PHX Training has strengthened its support to help adults find a job, following a management team restructure.
Kelly McGraffin takes up the role of business manager, while Carla Pearson has started as head of HR.
Kelly will operate from the PHX Training centre in Workington, focusing on increasing the number of adults completing employability courses with the training provider, plus promoting adult vocational courses and apprenticeships.
Kelly McGraffin
Carla moves from a previous business manager role and will now lead on employee relations and recruitment across the PHX Training company. Over the next coming months Carla will be starting the journey to gain accreditation with Investors in People.
Carla said: “We are aspiring to be the best possible employers we can be, by going through accreditation and working with this specialised company we will be able to widen our horizons and ensure that our employees are getting the best from us in all aspects of HR.”
Briony Fawcett, managing director, said: “We are continuing to strengthen the support that we provide across the North West to help more people overcome barriers to employment, learn new skills and get back into work.
Carla Pearson
“Kelly and Carla are paramount to increasing that support, so that we can deliver more employability and training courses, while at the same time we continue to be a quality employer across the region.”
PHX Training delivers government-backed initiatives, adult skills, NEET (not in education, employment or training), employability contracts, apprenticeships and work-based learning programmes.
The company specialises in apprenticeship qualifications in business administration skills, offering learners skills for roles such as office executive, office supervisor, membership administrator and personal administrator. Apprenticeships delivered by PHX also include team leading, customer service, hospitality, management and warehousing across the North West.
The PHX team of qualified trainers also offers a diverse range of resources including offline, online and face-to-face services at six training centres in Barrow, Carlisle, Workington, Morecambe, Preston and Blackpool.
