People on the Move: C&C Catering Engineers; McAlister Family Law; Bender UK

Cheshire catering group C&C Catering Engineers has announced that Craig Barnett has now taken up the role of managing director.

He has replaced Ian Berrow, who has decided to step down from the role after more than 35 years.

Mr Berrow joined the company in July 1984, and began his career as an electrical engineer, before moving swiftly to become service manager, then service director and eventually managing director of the business, which has seen huge growth and success under his leadership.

The company said: “Known for his reliability, professional attitude and fun loving nature, ‘Bez’ has been a credit to the company for the duration of his career, embodying the qualities which the C&C Group seeks out in every member of its team.

“Despite the current situation, staff were able to give Ian the send off he deserved, with some joining via video conferencing to pass on their well wishes.”

Peter Kitchin, C&C Catering Equipment Ltd’s managing director, who went to school with Ian and has known him his whole life, said: “We will miss Ian, but I truly hope it won’t be the last of him working with us at C&C.

“He knows the door is open as and when he fancies coming back.”

New MD, Craig Barnett, who comes with a wealth of experience in the industry, has now taken Ian’s place.

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In a key move designed to bolster the award-winning McAlister Family Law children team, Melissa Jones has joined as associate and Charlotte Francis as assistant solicitor. Both will be based in the firm’s Manchester offices.

Melissa brings to the role a wealth of experience, having been head of the family department at IMD Solicitors where she specialised in providing legal advice and assistance for clients from migrant communities.

Highly experienced in conducting divorce, financial and children matter cases with international elements, particularly cross-border issues, Melissa has a vast amount of experience in dealing with all aspect of family law, and particularly children matters.

Melissa Jones

She started her career at a specialist, niche firm, dealing with legal aid matters and predominantly care proceedings, representing parents in the Family Court.

She is a member of Resolution. For those cases involving children matters, she encourages a child-focused approach, putting the needs of the children first.

Charlotte, who studied at Huddersfield University, achieved a Masters in Law and Practice, and qualified in August 2019.

She has always specialised in family law, and has worked in various areas of that specialism, including private law children, and divorce and finances. Prior to joining McAlister, she held the position of solicitor at Makin Dixon Solicitors, an established niche firm specialising in family law matters.

She now focuses primarily on care matters, handling a varied caseload including domestic abuse, children issues and public law children matters.

McAlister Family Law, which has offices in Manchester city centre, throughout the North West, and London, has won multiple awards for its work. It is part of Manchester-based Beyond Group.

Charlotte Francis

It says it is one of the few firms in the country that specialises not only in divorce and family disputes, but also in children law.

In 2018 it took a five-strong children law team from Slater and Gordon and a 10-person child care legal team from Stephensons, trebling the size of the business and creating a unique offering designed to be disruptive to traditional family practices in the North West.

Melissa said: “This is a very exciting move for me, as the firm continues its rapid growth and increasing dominance of the family law market in the region.

“The firm’s reputation as experts in children law is outstanding, and I am delighted to be able to join the firm as they build something very special in the industry.”

Charlotte said: “McAlister Family Law is a firm not only committed to divorce and related finance work but is also unique in its dedication to the welfare of children.

“Its work in taking care of those vulnerable members of society, who need legal representation in some of the most harrowing of cases, is one which really resonates with me and I am very pleased to be part of such an excellent team.”

Amanda McAlister, managing partner, added: “As a firm that is passionate about the welfare of children, we believe in recruiting only those people who share our vision and values, so we are delighted to welcome two such excellent solicitors.

“Our children law division is one of the most highly-respected in the country, and I am confident that Melissa and Charlotte will make a significant contribution to the team.”

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Bender UK, the Cumbria-based supplier of turnkey operating theatre and power solutions, has appointed Ricky Barker as the new head of its hospital business unit.

Since his move, he has been busy familiarising himself with the new role and team, while making plans to further increase the success the company has had in the UK medical sector over the past two decades.

His suitability for the role has been put to the test of late, as he capably steers the hospital business unit team through unchartered waters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this time Bender UK has witnessed a huge increase in demand for technical advice and design support, along with equipment supply and installation for Nightingale field hospital and critical HDU and ICU extension projects.

Numerous hospitals have also sought confidence that their critical power systems are safe and resilient, with the service team completing many essential maintenance and remedial works to ensure systems can cope with extra demands for power from equipment used to treat coronavirus patients.

Ricky has been employed at Bender for more than 15 years. He spent this time in various healthcare engineering roles including commissioning, project management, and latterly as technical service leader.

Ricky Barker

Over the years he has supported the steady growth and expansion of Bender UK’s hospital business unit.

He spent a period leading the service department, which has consistently gained more contracted work by offering complete service solutions for NHS and private medical customers, incorporating the maintenance of complementary third-party systems such as uninterruptible power supplies.

Ricky said Bender’s strong track record within the medical sector and ongoing relationships with customers means the company is well positioned to act on those opportunities.

“My knowledge and experience in previous roles are definitely a major advantage when overseeing the service sales and projects departments.

“Our team has a lot of experience, and I see my role as providing the leadership and support to help them hit their ambitious targets for 2020.

“We are introducing more new products such as the glass touch panels, which are a strategic move to address the specific demands of the UK market.

“Assembling these panels in the UK not only enables us to respond more quickly to meet our customers’ needs, but it frees up manufacturing resource at our parent company in Germany.”

Established for more than two decades, Bender UK is heavily involved in the design and supply of critical care power systems for NHS and private hospitals in the UK and Ireland.

Operating from Ulverston, in the Lake District, it also provides state-of-the-art Merivaara operating tables and LED lights, and systems and digital imaging solutions achieved through successful partnerships.

Gareth Brunton, managing director, said: “I have worked with Ricky for a long time, and I am confident that he will do a fantastic job.

“He has a strong track record of delivering successful projects, great technical skills and sound leadership qualities. With the experience he brings of the healthcare sector he is the ideal person to continue the company growth in this area.”