People on the Move: HCRG; Made Smarter; Positive Cashflow Finance

Recruitment business HCRG (Human Capital Resourcing Group) has made two key, board-level appointments – Gary Taylor has been appointed group CEO of health and social care brands, while John Preston will now hold the position of CEO for both Allied Healthcare and CRG Homecare.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, HCRG has worked to strengthen the synergy between its brands, allowing the group to be more agile and flexible during these uncertain times.

With this, comes the opportunity for Gary to lead HCRG’s health and social care staffing businesses: CRG Medical Services, Jigsaw Medical, the Complex Care divisions, as well as Sugarman, to share knowledge, expertise and bring a new dimension to the business.

He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry, having spent 12 years working at director level across the health and social care recruitment sector.

Gary was previously CEO of several HCRG healthcare staffing brands and will take this experience into his new role.

The appointment of John Preston comes after significant work to expand the CRG Homecare brand and diversify its regulated homecare services across 18 national offices.

John is an experienced director with strong commercial experience within multi-site service focused businesses and has been with HCRG for more than five years as managing director of CRG Homecare.

John Preston

Ian Munro, group CEO and founder of HCRG, said: “Over the past few months we’ve seen our health and social care businesses come together as one unified team, which has allowed us greater flexibility during the global coronavirus pandemic.

“In light of this, we have decided to appoint Gary and John into wider roles, to lead our brands forward whilst continuing to provide outstanding care and services to all of our clients.

“We’re very excited about the prospects of working more collaboratively and having Gary and John in these posts will only strengthen our position within the recruitment sector.

“We believe these appointments will help take the group onto new footings as we exit the current crisis and move towards a new way of working.”

Gary said: “I’m excited to take on the wider group role of group CEO of the health and social care businesses, and eager to lead these brands into the next phase of growth. We have a great opportunity to develop our presence across all our market verticals and I’m looking forward to working with the fantastic teams we have in each of the business, to expedite growth and continue to build the portfolio – I know we can achieve great things together.

“As we enter into this exciting new chapter, we will be continuing to build on the amazing team we have with a number of key hires to support our expansion plans.”

John Preston said: “Taking on the role of CEO is something I’m proud and passionate about. The opportunity to lead the Allied Healthcare team, alongside CRG Homecare, is one I relish. Although it’s been a challenging time for the sector as a whole, I’m optimistic about what the future holds and where we’ll be post COVID-19.”

The company, based in Prescot, Merseyside, is further looking to recruit a range of roles to support the next stage of growth, including a chief operating officer, proven sales directors and experienced senior managers in the outsourced healthcare space.

HCRG has 9,000 contractor staff across the UK, offering temporary and permanent workforce solutions in the health, medical, social care and education sectors. It is the preferred supplier to major public sector organisations including the NHS and HM Prison Service.

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Made Smarter, a national movement which is helping SME manufacturers in the North West to adopt digital technologies, has appointed Glyn Jones as the new chair of its steering group.

Based in BAE Systems’ Air business in Lancashire, Jones is the delivery director for the Tempest programme, leading a team of around 1,000 engineers and manufacturers developing technology and options for UK’s next generation combat air system

Born in Crewe and educated in Liverpool, Jones has been with BAE System for more than 30 years, working on many of the leading military and civil aircraft programmes, including the F-35 Lightning II and Eurofighter Typhoon.

He replaces Andrea Thompson, managing director for Europe & International business at BAE Systems Air, as chair of the steering group which will oversee the development and delivery of the Made Smarter adoption programme in the North West.

The board, which features 15 representatives drawn from manufacturing firms from across Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Liverpool City Region, will also monitor progress of the adoption pilot and help inform the proposed national roll-out of the Made Smarter movement.

Jones said: “As someone who is very much a product of the North West the prospect of helping businesses across the region runs through the core of me.

“I have spent my career introducing new technology and digital capability and seen the considerable benefits they can bring. I am energised and optimistic about the opportunity Made Smarter brings to SME manufacturers.

“Since Made Smarter launched it has delivered a programme which has made a significant difference to a number of the region’s SME manufacturers, but the coronavirus pandemic means we face significant new challenges in terms of production processes, workforce, and supply chain constraints.

Glyn Jones

“Technology has been at the heart of the response to these challenges, whether that is finding new ways of working during the restrictions we have been operating under, or using our capabilities to rapidly produce parts for ventilators or protective equipment for those on the frontline tackling the virus.

“This ability to use technology to adapt and respond is critical and Made Smarter is needed more than ever to help SMEs maintain that competitive edge by adopting technology and rebounding from the current situation even stronger than they are today.”

Made Smarter offers a range of support for manufacturing SMEs including expert impartial advice and one-to-one support, matched funding for technology and digital tools, digital road-mapping workshops to help manufacturers take their first steps to transform their business, eight-month leadership and management training programmes offered in partnership with Lancaster University, and fully-funded Digital Technology Internships.

Donna Edwards, Made Smarter programme director, said: “I would like to thank Andrea Thompson for the significant contribution she has made to Made Smarter since it launched in November 2018.

“Her extensive international experience across key manufacturing sectors has helped deliver transformative change to significant numbers of SME manufacturers in the region.

“Glyn is a fantastic replacement as chair of the steering group and a valuable addition to the wider Made Smarter network of key business leaders we have brought together to continue to develop and drive this project through an extremely challenging time.

“I look forward to working with him and other board members in our continued efforts to boost the North West’s economy through the adoption of new technologies, especially during these difficult times. Manufacturing has been at the forefront in our fight against the pandemic and technology has proven to be its backbone.”

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Positive Cashflow Finance, the Manchester-based independent invoice finance provider, has promoted Damien Healey to the new role of head of relationship management.

Damien steps up to the position having 12 years’ industry experience, the last 10 of which have been gained with Positive.

His new role will see him lead the company’s relationship management team, supporting and managing the risk of a client base of more than 200 UK SMEs.

Damien said: “I am thrilled to take on this position and to be leading the relationship managers. We have a fantastic team here, with everyone focused on supporting our clients through this crisis and beyond.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with our growing client base, responding to their needs as they arise and ensuring they are presented with tailored support.”

Phil Chesham, head of invoice finance at Positive, said: “This is a thoroughly deserved promotion that comes at a particularly challenging time for all financiers.

“Now, more than ever, our clients will require a funding partner who will listen and support them with flexible and creative funding solutions.

Damien Healey

“Damien understands the importance of building relationships with our clients and he is the ideal colleague to lead the relationship team, who look after both our existing clients and new SME’s looking for a funder who will listen.

“I’m very much looking forward to working with Damien in this new role.”

With a focus on recognising talent within, Positive has also announced the promotions of Shannon Bailey to relationship manager and Georgina Allen to relationship executive.

As part of the 1pm Group, Positive also provides access to a multi-product range of business finance solutions from equipment finance, commercial loans through to vehicle finance.